Luggage Stolen from a Car on Lake Como: Why Your Boot Is Not a Left Luggage Service

On 8 August 2026 the story spread across sports websites and local news outlets: Franco Colapinto, the Argentine Formula 1 driver racing for Alpine, had his car emptied while spending a few days on holiday on Lake Como. Suitcases, clothes and personal belongings were gone, including the kit he uses to prepare mate and takes with him to every race weekend. He shared the news himself on Instagram, where the post sparked a long discussion among his followers.

Beyond the fame of the person involved, the pattern is mundane and unfortunately extremely common: the luggage was locked inside the car. And that is precisely where the vast majority of thefts against tourists take place.

A car boot is the easiest target there is

Thieves don't improvise. In high-density tourist areas — lakefront promenades, scenic car parks, parking near ferry terminals, railway stations — there is a well-rehearsed routine: scan for cars with foreign or rental plates, check whether the boot is loaded, act within seconds.

A parked car tells whoever is watching a great deal:

• foreign plates or rental stickers signal a tourist, meaning someone unlikely to come back to file a report or follow up on an investigation;
• a full boot or bags visible on the back seat indicates the owner is "in transit", and therefore away from the vehicle for an extended period;
• a window is a barrier that lasts seconds, not a security system.

And there's one detail almost nobody considers before setting off: car insurance rarely covers personal belongings stolen from inside the vehicle. Theft cover protects the car, not its contents. Luggage requires specific cover, which is often excluded from basic policies and rental agreements.

The real problem: the dead hours in every trip

The theft reported in the news is an extreme case, but the reasoning that leads us to leave suitcases in the car is familiar to everyone. It stems from a scheduling gap that every traveller runs into sooner or later:

• check-out at 10:00, train or flight at 19:00. Nine hours with your luggage in tow.
• early arrival, with the room not yet ready.
• a day out on the water, a trip up to Brunate, an excursion to Bellagio — activities where dragging a suitcase around simply isn't an option.

During those hours a traveller has three choices: carry everything (uncomfortable), leave the bags in the car (risky), or hand them over to a luggage storage service.

What a proper luggage storage service actually changes

The difference between a car boot and a storage facility isn't "one more locked door". It's a different category altogether.

Controlled, traceable access. At a Lock & Go hub, every opening is tied to a booking: entry works through personal digital access, and the assigned locker can only be used by the customer who booked it. There are no keys circulating, and no counter where someone can point at a bag that isn't theirs.

Individual lockers, not a pile of suitcases. Your luggage isn't dropped into a shared room alongside dozens of others: it occupies a dedicated, enclosed space, available in several sizes depending on whether you're storing a backpack, a cabin bag or a large suitcase.

Active CCTV and purpose-built premises. The area is monitored and designed for one purpose only: storing luggage. No cupboard behind a reception desk, no back room of a café.

Insurance cover on stored luggage. Every locker is covered by a dedicated insurance policy.

Continuous availability and online booking. You book from your phone in seconds, with instant confirmation: no queue, no opening hours to work around, no owner to track down by phone.

Como, one of the most exposed destinations

Lake Como is one of Italy's top destinations for international tourism, with a particular characteristic that amplifies the problem: it's a region you explore by moving around. Ferries, the funicular, hikes, hopping between Como, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. Very few of these activities work with a suitcase in tow, and almost all of them encourage the thought of "leaving everything in the car for a couple of hours".

Those two hours are exactly the moment of maximum exposure.

Three practical rules before you park

1. Never leave luggage in the car, not even for a few minutes and not even locked in the boot. Many thefts happen after a thief has watched the driver move bags from the cabin to the boot.
2. Separate what can't be replaced. Documents, electronics, medication and items of sentimental value always travel with you — never in stored luggage, never in the car.
3. Plan the empty hours of your trip. If you already know you'll have a window between check-out and departure, book storage before you arrive: it costs less than lunch and gives you back an entire day.

The simplest way to stop worrying about it

A theft ruins a holiday in a matter of seconds, and the damage rarely ends with the value of the items: it means police reports, lost days, emergency purchases and sometimes a flight home with nothing but the bare essentials.

Lock & Go exists precisely to remove that risk. Automated luggage storage, bookable online, with individual lockers on digital access in CCTV-monitored premises — designed for anyone who wants to enjoy the day hands-free, without leaving anything in the car.

👉 Book your luggage storage in Como now and enjoy the lake with peace of mind.

FAQ

How much does it cost to store a suitcase in Como? At Lock & Go, rates start from €1.49 per hour.

Can I drop off luggage without booking? Booking is recommended to guarantee your locker, but you can also purchase on site without a reservation.

Is stored luggage insured? Yes — every one of our lockers is covered by a dedicated insurance policy.

Can I leave a suitcase for several days? Absolutely, we offer maximum flexibility. For multi-day storage, get in touch for a tailored quote.