These locks are a bit light duty in my opinion, but then again, hard core thieves are going to get through about any lock you put on a suitcase. These can be opened by the TSA, if needed, without damage to the lock, as opposed to non TSA approved locks which they reserve the right to destroy. The purpose of these, in my usage of them, at least, is to keep some baggage handler, porter, or other looky-loo from the temptation of opening a suitcase just to see if there might be something worth owning in it. As one locksmith I knew used to say of minimal locks: they keep the honest people out. On some suitcases, depending upon the type of closure they have, these may also keep the suitcase from coming open if the latches, zipper, whatever, fails.