Saw this new item (not available for sale yet, apparently). After one of my friends had her cash stolen on a recent trip to the beach, I've been pondering how to secure items. Can't leave stuff in the rental car, that is frequently a target. Can't leave valuables in the hotel, they might grow feet and walk off. So, short of carrying a dry-bag with me while swimming, this looked interesting.

Yelpie Outdoor Personal Safe

Anyone have other ideas (aside from making my house into a fortress and never leaving)?

I always assume that any device can be circumvented. In this particular instance, I'm pretty sure some clever thief will figure out a way. Maybe move it oh-so carefully so the alarm doesn't sound, or perhaps stuff it into a large cooler filled with soundproofing, or figure out a way to disable the alarm (micro EMP?)

Your best bet is to put it into the safe at the hotel. If they don't have one or it's suspicious, see if a local bank will rent a SDB for the length of your trip. I won't ever again leave my wallet away from my person on a beach. A small Dry-bag ziplock is plenty to keep it safe. Strap that to the inside pocket of my swim trunks and I'm going out to sea! For women, I'm not sure if wearing a 2-piece or 1-piece, but if wearing trunks for bottoms, the same thing could apply.

I've always buried things in the sand, and put a shoe or other item on top as a marker (in the old West, valuables were hidden in a coffee can under the camp fire). Another option is a waterproof butt pack you can wear in the water.

Hm, I think this is to try to prevent the basic snatch-and-grab type thief, as opposed to the Micro-EMP toting super thief. My measly 20 bucks ice cream money, low-end digital camera, and cell phone aren't so much valuable as a hassel to replace. I don't normally travel with too much in the way of valuables other than family members, and they would complain if I locked them in a safe on the beach <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

But for those of us with young children, maybe one that comes with a small ac unit? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, I, for one, think that this is a grand idea.

Yes, I am sure that there are ways that this can be defeated. But just because the world's greatest cat burgler can easily steal from me, I should not bother locking my doors, right? By the way, for you guys who carry a 9mm or even a .45 as EDC: those won't stop a charging rhino or elephant. You might as well leave them at home.

Sheesh, guys. Even if this just caused a thief to move on to other less-protected targets, it has done its job. This would easily prevent the most common type of theft -- simply walking by and picking something up. Now, if you travel with the hope diamond, you deserve what you get. But I would love to have something like this where I could put my keys, cell phone, and lunch money.

I just hope that it goes for $20 or less. For me, $20 would be the magic price that would get me to buy.

That looks like just the thing to keep somebody from filching my beer at the beach. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

In the original article on Gizmag they stated a $75 price point.

At $75 bucks, I'd be more afraid of people stealing the safe itself and leaving the rest of my stuff behind.

wouldn't be cheaper to buy a pelican case? You can take the pelican case into the water. It is fully waterproof but not shark proof. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

All goodies in trunk of the rental car, with the inside trunk release disabled or locked-out if possible.

Renter's or homeowners insurance with a coverage for personal items stolen while traveling.

Traveler's checks for large amounts of money.

If you must leave items at the hotel, place a "do not disturb" sign on the door so that housekeeping stays out. Also, might consider carrying your valuable items disguised in something everyday like a cooler.

I never use the hotel safes -- if you are at a hotel that has a safe in the room, that's the first clue that you might become a victim. I'd seek lodging elsewhere. And I never leave valuables with the front desk for storage in their safe.

The fewer eyes that see your stuff are the fewer people who might considering taking it.

Oh boy I am rambling on here. The "Yelpie" looks like a neat product, but I'll buy a $5 cooler and keep the other $70. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A small Otter-box or Pelican case buried in the ice at the bottom of the cooler (or in the sand under the cooler) has always worked for me at the beach. Of course, I usually only have water or Gatorade, so the cooler (and contents) are not as likely to be stolen as a cooler full of beer.

This works well in a hotel as well. If we are traveling by car, we'll usually have a cooler for water/soda that we'll bring into the hotel room. Of course, we always just leave the Do Not Disturb sign up as well.

Portable safes.....something for the criminal to crack at his own leisure. Concept has been around and seemed silly until I see this one with an alarm. Personally, I keep people from knowing what valuables I have and keep it well hidden and it has always worked when outdoors.