safer to carry electronics in carry on or put in luggage to avoid theft shakedown

thorton · #1 06-10-2009, 09:21 AM

after reading about theft or shake downs when they look thru your carry on i was wondering if it is better or worse than having it in your checked luggage.

i usually carry it on my carry on since ill be able to keep an eye on it. but if it instantly makes me a target am i better off putting it in my luggage.

or will having it in my luggage make it that much easier for them to steal.

El_Uruguayo · #2 06-10-2009, 11:06 AM

If its something with bateries, like a laptop, camera, etc. Bring with you on your carry on. You will have to prove these work, by turnign them on. If its something like a printer, you have no choice but to check it. Its better IMO to bring in your carry on, as there is occasional theft from checked baggage. It might cause a little stall at security, but worth it in the long run. Also be concious of what you have on your laptop, border security personnel are allowed to go through your files, and can temporarily consfiscate your computer to revise it. This is usually to look for child pron, which is fine by me, but I'm wondering if any downloaded music or movies can be considered criminal? There is a big push to crackdown on trafficking of copyrighted material, and border agents can confiscate materials -not sure about pressing charges, maybe someone else knows. I know that in holland they don't like people bringing in burned music CDs.

Fiesta Mama · #3 06-10-2009, 12:07 PM

I would never put anything of any value (ie. camera, laptop, etc. in your checked baggage). That being said, I am coming a few weeks (to POP from Toronto) and we were planning on bringing a small hard drive for a computer and the monitor in our carry-on baggage. Since it's not a laptop, will they still want to see it works, etc. It's used and it's a gift that we are bringing for my husband's cousins and we didn't think it would be a problem?

sylindr · #4 06-10-2009, 12:10 PM

I brought a monitor through the states about 18 months ago and had no problems whatsoever... so hopefully you will have the same experience

Fiesta Mama · #5 06-10-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylindr

I brought a monitor through the states about 18 months ago and had no problems whatsoever... so hopefully you will have the same experience

A hard drive has information stored on it though so I think it would be looked upon differently?

sylindr · #6 06-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta Mama

A hard drive has information stored on it though so I think it would be looked upon differently?

they mentioned a monitor so that was my answer... the hard drive is hard to say.... i have packed two towers in luggage with no problems.... so not sure.

thorton · #7 06-10-2009, 01:42 PM

i have an external hard drive that i upload my photos onto from my camera so i dont need extra memory cards but i wont be able to show them whats on it since it doesnt go the other way.

will this be a problem or should i leave it at home?

Chip · #8 06-10-2009, 02:06 PM

It is very rare for the customs officials here in the DR to check any of the luggage of what is perceived to be a tourist (happened to me like 1 time out of 10). Returning Dominicans from abroad is another thing altogether. Therefore, "market" yourself as a tourist and try not to speak any Spanish.

Also, it is always good to put valuable in one's carry on luggage.

Fiesta Mama · #9 06-10-2009, 02:58 PM

Okay, I called the airport authorities here in Toronto (not sure where the original poster is coming from) and they said if we are bringing any electronics in our carry-on luggage (including a hard drive for a computer) that we must be able to turn it on (if asked) to show it works. Therefore, in our case, we will have to bring the monitor (flat screen) and cords/plugs with us in our carry-on baggage which we were probably going to do anyway. I guess they want to make sure it's not a fake computer or something in case it's a bomb??? Not really sure. I am not worried about the POP airport because I look like a tourist and my husband and I seperate when we land so immigration reps don't bother us as he's Dominican and would more likely be harassed. He just carries the suitcase with clothes. I take anything they would be interested in charging us duty on.

El_Uruguayo · #10 06-10-2009, 03:31 PM

Actually fiesta,

You are not required to bring it in your carry on, just required to prove it works if its in your carry-on. Otherwise anything can checked, working or not. They go through xrays, random searches, even particle analysis when checked. Electronics that dont work could be bombs, or methods used to smuggle drugs. But this has been dune pre 9-11