Realising you’ve had stuff nicked from your bag when you’re out and about really drives home the phrase ‘that sinking feeling’.
The sense of vulnerability, the personal space invasion and the impending faff of filing police reports to claim insurance or sorting a replacement - it’s a soul-sapping saga.
Perhaps inevitably, ONS figures show that Londoners are most at risk of pickpocketing. The country’s 10 hot spots are all in the capital with Westminster leading the way for this flavour of crime.
From a thief's POV, the general public is ripe for plundering. The average person carries around a small fortune in tech every day, from laptops and tablets to headphones and handsets.
Overcrowded tubes and buses make fishing out small devices or goods without detection easy. Add the millions of trips that take place during the morning and evening rush hours often with bulky bags and coats lying on the floor or seats and it’s clear to see how light-fingered folk can get to your valuables, unbeknownst to you until you’re at the ticket barriers or arrive home.
Thieves and pickpockets have existed since people had anything worth stealing. While they will continue with their nefarious ways - from pickpocketing to outright snatching bags from mopeds - it doesn’t mean we, the fed-up public, can’t make their job harder.
The Met Police’s website has a list of do’s and don’ts to avoid becoming a mark, with one of the easiest ways listed by using an anti-theft bag.
Designed to foil opportunist’s attempts to undo bag fastenings, these bags are made with fiddly clasps and locks so that you’ll feel a stranger tugging on them and be able to act. Others feature secret pockets and anti-rip material to deter thieves' advances.
Guarding your bag against pickpockets and thieves is a necessary measure today. If you’re looking for options, we’ve rounded up the best Fort Knox-esque bags to invest in below.
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Mous Extreme Commuter Backpack
Best for: business travel
Built to withstand the vigours of the daily commute, Mous’s backpack boasts plenty of thief-repelling features, from a minimum of exterior pockets to a shell-like lid to keep unsavoury fingers out. The cherry on top is the Fidlock mechanism that won’t come undone without you knowing. The wide padded shoulder straps mean weight is evenly distributed.
Lined with AiroFoam and armed to the eyeballs with internal pockets, zipped compartments and other features to make organisation a breeze, it’s also brilliant for short business trips as your sole bag or hand baggage for longer jaunts.
It is undeniably pricey, but probably not more than it would cost to replace all your stolen tech.
Buy now £199.99, Mous
Rains Rolltop Rucksack
Rains’ sleek and waterproof rucksack is the coolest commuter option out there. It features a rolltop design to keep your belongings as dry as possible and has a handy side zip the full length of the bag so you can grab your laptop without unwrapping the fastening.
Buy now £105.00, Rains
LeahWard Anti-theft Women's Soft Genuine Leather Rucksack Italian Leather Backpack
Security needn’t mean chains and a padlock. Leah Ward proves you can have style while keeping your stuff secure. The brand is behind this anti-theft backpack, made from leather and coloured in playful hues including this futuristic silver. Loaded with zipped pockets to distribute belongings, there’s a top grab handle and adjustable straps so you can carry it in your hand or backpack mode.
Buy now £42.99, Amazon
Pacsafe Unisex's Go Anti Theft Sling Pack, One Size
This crossbody sling option is fitted with a lockable two-way zipped compartment to keep your bits safe. The exterior is made from cut-proof lightweight steel mesh which also blocks RFIDs to protect credit cards, passports and other forms of ID against furtive unauthorised scans.
Buy now £59.90, Amazon
Wander Plus Anti Theft Travel Bag
One of the best ways to deter would-be thieves is by wearing valuables in a crossbody bag. This one is water and tear-resistant, which, coupled with a reinforced zip and a buckle that shuts with magnets, offers added layers of security.
It’s not a capacious sort, but rather an option to carry the most valuable things: keys, wallet, phone.
Available in an array of colours.
Buy now £9.93, Amazon
Itian Anti-theft Hidden Security Bag
It may not be the most glamorous thing you’ve ever worn, but if you’re wary about thieves, this holster-style bag will put your valuables right where you can feel them against your torso.
The scratch-resistant design has pockets galore to put wallets, handsets, keys, passports - even a small tablet can slip into this bad boy. Worn under a suit jacket or coat, no one will be able to see where your essentials are stashed.
A worthy option when you’re travelling alone and don’t have a friend to watch your stuff.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Sierra Designs Flex Lumbar 3-6L Bumbag
Thanks to its excellent expandable design, the Flex Lumbar Bumbag has an impressive variable capacity of between three to six litres. We’d wear this extended and clipped over our shoulders while cycling or walking to work, rather than around the waist as a traditional bumbag is worn. It’s made from a durable nylon-poly ripstop material and is equipped with a mesh water bottle pocket, as well as a zippered valuables compartment.
Buy now £55.00, Mountain Warehouse
Lovevook Laptop Backpack
Best for: a practical backpack on a budget
A good backpack can often be a hefty investment – but not here. Lovevook’s backpack is an all-in-one masterpiece, and all for under £35. Maximising storage, there are multiple zippable compartments, including three on the front alone, with a designated padded pocket at the back to store a laptop. And speaking of pockets, it also has a nifty, anti-theft pocket on the back which is perfect for keeping a bank card or phone in.
Taking it to the next level is the external USB port with a built-in charging cable, ensuring your phone will never run out of battery again. It also comes in a wide array of colours, including red and light blue, which couldn’t be further than that dull executive look you often come across.
For all you could need, with a neat price, this is the one to choose.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Built for Athletes Small Black Gym Backpack
Best for: the capacity to double as a weekend bag
Despite its military-esque exterior, this backpack has been crafted with athletes in mind. Offered in 25L and 45L models, this is about as close as you’ll get capacity-wise to a cross-country backpacker’s kit, only without the cumbersome size.
Featuring two side bottle holders capable of holding 750ml each, this backpack is also equipped with adjustable sternum and waist straps for comfortable carrying when hiking and camping.
The best bit? This backpack opens flat to 180 degrees for speedy packing and unpacking. A great option for commuters, cyclists and travellers, the water-resistant and rip-proof design will keep your belongings safe no matter how far you’ve got to go.
Buy now £109.99, Built for Athletes
Rapha Reflective Travel Backpack
Best for: those who cycle to work
Cycling aficionados out there, listen up. Bike specialists Rapha have pulled out all the stops with their travel backpack. Not only is it reflective (yes, you heard me right), making it great for those on the move after dark, but it also has a waterproof coating and rain cover so your stuff remains protected, whatever the weather.
Despite its deceptively slim size, this backpack can hold 15L – roomy enough to hold all your office wares, as well as for an overnight stay. Other top features include the chest strap, which has a magnetic closure to keep your bag in place when loaded, which makes the release so much easier than traditional clips. Honestly, try it.
This is also one of only a few bags that has a small zip pocket at the back to store essentials like keys and phones, and it can be accessed even when the rain cover is on, which is a massive plus point. Added to this, it also unzips like a clamshell so you can lie it flat and access everything with ease. There’s also a moulded back panel with channels to promote airflow, for maximum comfort.
Seriously, is there anything this backpack can’t do?
Buy now £130.00, Rapha
SZLX Large Travel Backpack
Best for: pockets and sections galore
Available in pleasing pastel hues as well as classic black and white, this compact backpack can hold an astounding amount thanks to all the compartments.
There are plenty of sections to keep your things organised; a roomy main area for clothes and underwear with sleeves and pockets to keep small tech and travel documents in place; a dedicated shoes compartment for an extra pair of trainers; space to keep a 14-inch laptop; and a slim front pocket to stow sub-100ml toiletries.
There are side pockets too, which can be used for reusable water bottles or an umbrella, and there’s a USB charger port so you can add your own cable and battery pack. Keep your most precious things in the slim anti-theft zipper pocket on the mesh panelled reverse.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
