In praise of Search-Alert locks on Pelicans

Here's their response. A straight up company:

"Thanks for your inquiry and we are glad to hear that your equipment intact and safe at your destination. We can replace the locks for you. Please return to us with a copy of your packing slip or order id number and we can replace them once we receive them.

Regards,
Customer service Team"

Wow, glad that your equipment is intact. I have to get myself some locks.

My sister recently went to Asia for a business trip. On her way back to the states, her suit case was pried opened and they stole her Canon S90 camera and MacBook. She has travel and business insurance, so the items are covered, but it's frustrating to know that there are so many thieves working in security.

The police officer told her that it's a collaboration between the guys who scans the luggages and the baggage handlers. When the luggages gets xrayed priored to check-in, if they see something of value, they'll "mark" the bag. Then the baggage handler will pry open the ones that are marked and steal the valuables in there. Sad truth.

wow... i'm sold... in both pelican and the lock...

what size pelican would be the most trouble free for international carry on?

kinghong1970 wrote in post #10655870
wow... i'm sold... in both pelican and the lock...

what size pelican would be the most trouble free for international carry on?

Probably the 1514. If they make one wider, it would fit. But the length and the height are the max for overhead.

do you have to order these locks from them, or can you buy them in stores. If so does anyone know where I can buy them in a store in Canada?

tvphotog wrote in post #10656233
Probably the 1514. If they make one wider, it would fit. But the length and the height are the max for overhead.

thanks...
i'm going to get me some pelicans as well.

again, thanks for the testimonial.

great testimonial, and scary for sure.

when I fly with my tripod I've always carried it on and never had an issue. But that doesn't mean I wont. I always figure I'll check JUST THE TRIPOD if it comes to it. IT spin the head off, put it in my camera bag, then check just the legs with a tag on it. All my gear is insured under a specific policy, but I'd bet home owners would cover theft even w/o a specific policy... But if you check just the tripod, then they can only steal that. If you check your whole pelican just for the tripod, then they can steal everything?

I'm also surprised the guys who do this don't just have bolt cutters themselves? The time it takes to get that far with a lock -vs- just snapping it quick with cutters? Yes, the cutters are move obvious/incriminating to be caught with, but so is stolen stuff, and you'd think the time messing with a bag would make it easier to get caught?

Good news indeed. Wonder if i can get these in the Uk

The only thing I hate about the TSA locks is that the key used by security is pretty simple. I have a TSA lock myself (nothing overly fancy like this one) but the key lock can be really easily picked. It's supposed to be harder to do so, but I was able to open it with a hair pin...

Do you have a picture the bottom of the lock? I'm curious to see what this one's like. I like that it has an indicator as well so you know right away.

The price on those is not bad.

I don't fly, but after your experience I am going to order a couple. I need locks anyways.

DimensionZero wrote in post #10660408
The only thing I hate about the TSA locks is that the key used by security is pretty simple. I have a TSA lock myself (nothing overly fancy like this one) but the key lock can be really easily picked. It's supposed to be harder to do so, but I was able to open it with a hair pin...

Do you have a picture the bottom of the lock? I'm curious to see what this one's like. I like that it has an indicator as well so you know right away.

Yes, it is interesting that a simple lock pick would ease their theft. I don't have a picture of the lock bottom which was intact on both locks.

kinghong1970 wrote in post #10655870
wow... i'm sold... in both pelican and the lock...

what size pelican would be the most trouble free for international carry on?

I looked at the B&H Pelican specs, and the 1560 appears to have an extra 3 inch width and more or less the same other dimensions as the 1514. I think it would fit overhead as well as the 1541.

tvphotog wrote in post #10666311
I looked at the B&H Pelican specs, and the 1560 appears to have an extra 3 inch width and more or less the same other dimensions as the 1514. I think it would fit overhead as well as the 1541.

Thanks Jay...

i'm still a bit concerned... as i do travel quite a bit for work, i carry my camera gear only as an added treat for my hobby.

i took my lowepro pro roller x100 to milan/paris this past fashion week and i was faced with one Air France person that tried to tell me my roller needed to be checked... i told her it's my computer and camera... i cannot check it... and she said it'll be fine then...

then later on, another person told me that i had to check it in...

european flights are so ridiculous sometimes...

anyways, i've ordered a 1520 to store my gear at home... too many lil kids... hehehe...

i'm going to look into those other options...

regards,

albert

kinghong1970 wrote in post #10666324
anyways, i've ordered a 1520 to store my gear at home... too many lil kids... hehehe...

i'm going to look into those other options...

regards,

albert

Albert,

Please excuse my forwardness, but why don't you get the 1560? It's about the same size, but is a roll-on. If you ever decide to travel with it, you'll have the capability.

when traveling locally, I usually check in my tripod, its a cheap $80 benro tripod... and hand carry all my other gears.

I WON'T EVER check in my gears under any condition... just not gonna risk it.