Suitcase opened by someone

[pampam]

I hope this is the right place to post this. I'm not sure just what to think.

When my luggase was delivered , one suitcase was unlocked. I figured it must have been by someone at the airport, because the suitcase has TSA approved locks, so it could have been opened by someone with their key. When I unzipped it, I found nothing taken, but there was no note from TSA saying the suitcase had been opened. I did, however, find a scratched Florida state lottery ticket in my contents. (It was not a winner). so, now I know it was opened in Florida, not Ontario.

I called the luggage department. They told me to call Magic Express. Magic Express told me to call my airline. Westjet never did return my call. The lock on the suitcase will no longer lock. If the suitcase is opened by the authorities, do they not have to leave notification in the suitcase? Am I responsible for paying for the repairs to the luggage lock?

 

[Brian Noble]

Anyone handling it at any point could have opened it to see if there was something valuable inside. If it was TSA (in their official capacity) they would have left a note saying that they opened it. I think they would also have re-locked the lock. The fact that the lock is now broken suggests that it wasn't opened by a key, but instead was picked (poorly).

That leaves the baggage handlers at the airport, a TSA agent in an (ahem) unofficial capacity, the BAGS employees who handle the luggage for ME/RAC, or the bell staff at the hotel. Any one of those people may have decided to see if there was anything worth taking. That's a lot of people, working for a lot of different companies, and none of them are going to take responsibility for this because there is someone else that could potentially be to blame.

So, congratulate yourself for not placing valuables in your checked luggage (this is why you are not supposed to do so) and buy a replacement lock. Or, just go without the locks. When you lock your luggage, you are telling a potential thief that there is something in there you don't want someone to take.

 

[pr surfer]

It could have been any Baggage Handler, Airline Employee, TSA, or Customs.

And none will take responsibility.

 

[tjmw2727]

In my experience the TSA leaves a note indicating they have searched my bags only 1/2 the time. I use a zip tie to keep my bags closed and tsa cuts them and then uses their own to re-tie the bag 90% of the time. Most of my trips are not to Disney and no one but the airline/tsa would have access to my bags.

I am not saying I agree -but it's a fact of travel these days and another reminder to never put anything of value in our checked bags.

eta - I no longer use the TSA approved locks because just as often as not they were broken rather than opened using the key.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

TSA leaves a note, which means your bag was opened in an unauthorized way. I would continue to contact the airline, etc. and if nothing is done about it I would contact your local authorities to see what can be done. Regardless of whether or not something was taken, your personal luggage was violated by someone who is supposed to be protecting your things.

 

[jsilvers]

I did, however, find a scratched Florida state lottery ticket in my contents. (It was not a winner). so, now I know it was opened in Florida, not Ontario.

Have you considered that whoever opened it just wants you to think that it was opened in Florida, and threw in a worthless lottery ticket to mislead you?

 

[pr surfer]

Have you considered that whoever opened it just wants you to think that it was opened in Florida, and threw in a worthless lottery ticket to mislead you?

That's too out there, even for me.

 

[crashbb]

Just wanted to point out that it wouldn't have been TSA in any case - TSA do not operate in Canadian airport. It may have been CATSA though.

I do agree though that it is unlikely you will ever be able to prove who did it and that, because of this, everyone will continue to pass the buck.

 

[Toy Story Fan]

When we went on our MR Disney Cruise in Nov, most of our luggage was gone through. All our items (mainly tolietries) that were put into slide lock bags were ripped open and all the slides were missing. No one took the time to slide the lock. It kind of defeated the whole purpose of using plastic bags! My son's favorite flip flops were also taken. No note was left, and I kind of felt violated that someone went in my luggage, and I have no idea who. Not to mention, 2 suitcases were caved in on the sides and quite damaged.

 

[chartle]

I would contact your local authorities to see what can be done. Regardless of whether or not something was taken, your personal luggage was violated by someone who is supposed to be protecting your things.

Do you really think your local police would or could do anything about your luggage being opened? Particularly if nothing was taken and it most likely happened in another country. Even if there was something taken they would say contact your insurance company or the airline.

 

[Polydweller]

In Canada, if your luggage has to be opened for a search CATSA is required to attempt to locate you (via your airline) to have it opened and searched in your presence. Only if they can't locate you is the lock broken and a notification is left in your bag. You must pay for the broken lock.

Regardless, you will likely have to pay for the lock unless you can determine where it was broken and by whom. You should keep trying to get Westjet to trace who would have handled it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Don't waste time pursuing this; if nothing was taken, this is not such a big deal. You cannot know what happened and no one will take responsibility. TSA approved locks are cheap; your time is probably worth more than the cost of one. Or get some plastic locking ties. You can buy a big bundle at many places very inexpensively.

 

[chartle]

Am I responsible for paying for the repairs to the luggage lock?

One other question.

When you say the lock was broken do you mean the lock or the rings that its attached to on your suitcase?

The reason ask is you are asking about repairs to the luggage lock. If its just a lock wouldn't you just buy a new one for a few bucks?

If was the luggage that was damaged, it possible that no one may have opened your luggage but the lock may have been damaged somewhere on a belt or other such equipment.

Someone posted here awhile back and accused the TSA of cutting the suit case instead of the lock itself. Well the pictures showed exactly what it would look like if the lock was torn off not cut off. (The TSA would never have to tear off a lock, they have the tools to cut any padlock that anyone could put on a suitcase.)

The weird part is the lottery ticket though.

So I think you may just have a damaged suitcase issue that I think the airlines may have to take care off, but if you start calling it anything else, as you can see, everyone gets very defensive.

 

[pampam]

One other question.

When you say the lock was broken do you mean the lock or the rings that its attached to on your suitcase?

The reason ask is you are asking about repairs to the luggage lock. If its just a lock wouldn't you just buy a new one for a few bucks?

If was the luggage that was damaged, it possible that no one may have opened your luggage but the lock may have been damaged somewhere on a belt or other such equipment.

Someone posted here awhile back and accused the TSA of cutting the suit case instead of the lock itself. Well the pictures showed exactly what it would look like if the lock was torn off not cut off. (The TSA would never have to tear off a lock, they have the tools to cut any padlock that anyone could put on a suitcase.)

The weird part is the lottery ticket though.

So I think you may just have a damaged suitcase issue that I think the airlines may have to take care off, but if you start calling it anything else, as you can see, everyone gets very defensive.

I belive the suitcase was intentionally opened, not damaged on a belt. I believe as the person searched through the suitcase, the lottery ticket fell out of his pocket. Because he was in such a rush, he didn't notice the ticket in amongst my things. The suitcase appears fine, but the lock will not lock. It's a combination lock, where I select my own numbers, but no matter what numbers I choose, it will not lock. The instructions say to push in the reset button untill I hear a click. There is not a click. I also feel that it was not searched by authorities, because there was no notification that it had been searched, and the lock was TSA approved, so they have the key to open it without damaging anything. Yes, I know it should only cost a few dollars to get a new lock and replace it, but that is not the issue. This should not have happened in the first place. It's like if someone broke into your home. If nothing is taken, it doesn't deminish the fact that your home was invaded. How do I report this, and what authorites shold be notified? Is this not the responsibility of Westjet? Just because nothing was stolen, it still happened, and I feel these things should be traced. Perhaps this has happened before, and they susspect someone of doing this. I know the lottery ticked is garbage, but it likely has his fingerprints on it, so it could be evidence. I really don't know. I'm just going through the thinking process, but I am concerned that my luggage was invaded.

 

[Lewisc]

The value of your lock is something like $10-$20. You don't really think the police will even take a report let alone fingerprint the lottery ticket. A PP already told you the TSA doesn't always leave a card. Sometimes they run out of cards. The manufacturing cost of those locks is only a few dollars (at most). The lock could have been damaged during handling or even damaged when (if) a TSA agent used whatever tool they use to open the lock.

There isn't anyone for you to make a report to. Is your lock a name brand? You might send it to them and maybe they'll send you a new lock.

You missed a possibility. Your lock broke, and your suitcase opened, during handling. The lottery ticket fell out of the pocket of whatever employee closed your suitcase and attempted to lock your bag.

You'll never know if your bag was opened by a TSA agent, thief (who didn't find anything worth stealing) in the luggage handling area or if your bag just opened during handling.

You make a good point. There is plenty of access for a thief who wants to steal stuff from our luggage. The only real solution is to make sure you don't check any high value items such as cameras and IPADs.

I belive the suitcase was intentionally opened, not damaged on a belt. I believe as the person searched through the suitcase, the lottery ticket fell out of his pocket. Because he was in such a rush, he didn't notice the ticket in amongst my things. The suitcase appears fine, but the lock will not lock. It's a combination lock, where I select my own numbers, but no matter what numbers I choose, it will not lock. The instructions say to push in the reset button untill I hear a click. There is not a click. I also feel that it was not searched by authorities, because there was no notification that it had been searched, and the lock was TSA approved, so they have the key to open it without damaging anything. Yes, I know it should only cost a few dollars to get a new lock and replace it, but that is not the issue. This should not have happened in the first place. It's like if someone broke into your home. If nothing is taken, it doesn't deminish the fact that your home was invaded. How do I report this, and what authorites shold be notified? Is this not the responsibility of Westjet? Just because nothing was stolen, it still happened, and I feel these things should be traced. Perhaps this has happened before, and they susspect someone of doing this. I know the lottery ticked is garbage, but it likely has his fingerprints on it, so it could be evidence. I really don't know. I'm just going through the thinking process, but I am concerned that my luggage was invaded.

 

[sam_gordon]

Is this not the responsibility of Westjet?

That's the problem. You don't know the suitcase was in Westjet's possession when it was opened. Assuming you used DME, you've got the BAGS folks who got it to the airport, the TSA screeners, THEN Westjet. Too many organizations to go through. Does it suck? Yes. But I agree the best thing to do is to "let it go".

 

[chartle]

The big issue is what are you looking for and to what ends will you go to get it?

If the Airline doesn't respond I assume there is some sort of procedure to go through with some sort of governmental agency to get them to respond.

After that what? Call the consumer hotline at your local TV station, hire a lawyer?

When you start bringing up checking the lottery ticket for finger prints I don't know how far you are willing to take this?

 

[Eliza32]

I'd let it go because it doesn't look like you're going to get any answers and from your tone it sounds like the whole thing is stressing you out. The authorities will not be able to trace the person who did this (if in fact it was intentional) so move on and enjoy life.

 

[pr surfer]

That's the problem. You don't know the suitcase was in Westjet's possession when it was opened. Assuming you used DME, you've got the BAGS folks who got it to the airport, the TSA screeners, THEN Westjet. Too many organizations to go through. Does it suck? Yes. But I agree the best thing to do is to "let it go".

Not to mention that since it was an international flight, Customs could also have stuck their hand in. Even though it's not common, they can do exit checks

 

[Brian Noble]

How do I report this, and what authorites shold be notified?

I totally understand your frustration. I do, really.

But, my advice is unchanged. Congratulate yourself on begin a wise traveler, who did not pack any valuables in checked luggage. Buy a new ($10) TSA-approved lock---or, preferably, do without. And, MOVE ON.