NotUrsula
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2002
- Messages
- 20,109
Just as a public service, I thought I would bring this up again, since we have a lot of folks posting here who don't fly often.
This is from USAToday, 01/17/06:
Theft complaints persist at airport security checkpoints
Thefts from airport security checkpoints remain a top concern of air travelers, reports Keith L. Alexander, the Business Class columnist for The Washington Post (free registration). Alexander talks to passenger John Wright, who claims a $7,000 wedding ring was stolen from a bin on a conveyor belt of an X-ray checkpoint machine at Bostons Logan International Airport. "I traveled 15 feet and lost a $7,000 diamond wedding ring, Wright says. They (Transportation Security Administration workers) looked on the ground and conveyor belt. Nothing. I thought I was in a secure area." Now Wright has filed a lawsuit against the TSA seeking reimbursement for the ring and attorneys fees. The TSA has refused to comment on Wrights case.
Alexander writes that since 2003, 130 screeners have been fired for stealing, 53 of them from January to Oct. 18 of 2005. TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis says that out of the 80,000 screeners who have worked for the agency since 2002, the number of employees fired for theft is an "incredibly small percentage. Davis adds that fliers who think theyve had an item stolen should not only contact the TSA, but also fill out a local police report.
You need to be vigilant and make sure that you keep your eyes on your belongings at all times, but that is not enough to make sure that situations like the above (even though the ring story is suspicious) don't happen. Therefore, some tips:
Keep boarding pass and ID in your hand or in a pouch around your neck; don't leave it in your carryon or set it on the belt. It will not set off the detectors.
Jewelry: Don't wear heavy jewelry when travelling. I always advise continuously wearing any jewelry you travel with, but make it light. Light is not always as sparse as it might sound, though. I customarily wear a 1/8" gold chain around my neck, a leather-band watch, a 1/4" gold chain bracelet, 2 gold rings (my wedding band and engagement ring), and a pr. of 1/4" gold stud earrings. None of these items has ever set off the metal detectors, and I travel a LOT. Men's metal-band watches are often enough to set them off, however. It is also best not to wear belts through security; put it in the carryon when you get dressed, and put it on when you get to your gate. The detectors are not as sensitive to precious metals as they are base metals; so gold/platinum will not cause as much difficulty as costume jewelry.
(Underwire bras usually do NOT set off the detectors, but metal zippers and snaps on clothing will, so try not to wear clothing with lots of metal fastenings. The more there are, the more likely you are to hear a buzz.)
Ziplocs: Seed the outer pockets of your carryon bags with gallon-size slide ziploc freezer bags, and it is actually best to write your name on the bags. (Leave the bags in your carryon permanently so that they are always available for this purpose.) While you are in the security line, or before you get into it, pause and empty all your pocket stuff into the zipper bag (incl. keys, cell phone, men's wallets, heavy watches, etc.), and put the ziploc securely inside your carryon bag. This is important because TSA agents wear rubber gloves. It is not that I wish to imply that all checkpoint thieves are agents, because they are not, but the agents are the ones with the most opportunity to rifle through your belongings. It is very difficult to open a plastic zip-bag while wearing rubber gloves. Peek to check that the bag is still there before you leave security, but don't pause to put the items back on/in pockets until you reach your gate; that holds up the line.
Shoes: Wear slip-ons/loafers. This is not only so that you won't hold up the line, but so that you won't be distracted from watching your belongings while messing about with your shoes.
Electronics: PUT YOUR NAME ON ALL ELECTRONICS! On cell phones, you should be able to set the opening screen to display your name when it is turned on. For laptops, laminate two business cards and use double-sided tape to put one on both the top and bottom of the machine. If you don't have a business card, create something equivalent for the purpose, and make it noticeable. (Scotch-taping a soft card on doesn't work as well, because repeated handling will damage the card and pull it loose, and it looks kind of raggedy when you are using the laptop in meetings.) For large cameras, put a label on it somewhere, and make that label hard to remove. MP3 players (esp. Ipods) should be marked with name, but kept in cases when travelling, or at least put into your carryon while going through security; don't put them loose in the bins, because THEY WALK.
A word about putting yourself back together. Leave security before you stop to do it. Always count your items as you put them on the belt, and count them as you pick them up, but don't take time to restore them to your person while you are standing in the security area. Just gather up your stuff and walk completely clear of the area to the nearest open wall, *then* stop to put your jacket and shoes back on, etc. As I've already said, pocket stuff can wait until you reach your gate; you'll be killing time there anyway. There are two reasons for this: 1) you won't hold up the line as badly, and 2) you will not be frazzled doing it in a crowded area where people are rushing you. Being frazzled leads to losing things.
Also, re: checked baggage. Not only should you not put valuables in checked baggage, but also do not pack new items (clothes, souvies, etc.) with tags still on. These are valuable to thieves b/c they can take them back to the store for cash, and they look for them. Remove all tags before packing, and if you must keep the tags, pack them separately.
This is from USAToday, 01/17/06:
Theft complaints persist at airport security checkpoints
Thefts from airport security checkpoints remain a top concern of air travelers, reports Keith L. Alexander, the Business Class columnist for The Washington Post (free registration). Alexander talks to passenger John Wright, who claims a $7,000 wedding ring was stolen from a bin on a conveyor belt of an X-ray checkpoint machine at Bostons Logan International Airport. "I traveled 15 feet and lost a $7,000 diamond wedding ring, Wright says. They (Transportation Security Administration workers) looked on the ground and conveyor belt. Nothing. I thought I was in a secure area." Now Wright has filed a lawsuit against the TSA seeking reimbursement for the ring and attorneys fees. The TSA has refused to comment on Wrights case.
Alexander writes that since 2003, 130 screeners have been fired for stealing, 53 of them from January to Oct. 18 of 2005. TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis says that out of the 80,000 screeners who have worked for the agency since 2002, the number of employees fired for theft is an "incredibly small percentage. Davis adds that fliers who think theyve had an item stolen should not only contact the TSA, but also fill out a local police report.
You need to be vigilant and make sure that you keep your eyes on your belongings at all times, but that is not enough to make sure that situations like the above (even though the ring story is suspicious) don't happen. Therefore, some tips:
Keep boarding pass and ID in your hand or in a pouch around your neck; don't leave it in your carryon or set it on the belt. It will not set off the detectors.
Jewelry: Don't wear heavy jewelry when travelling. I always advise continuously wearing any jewelry you travel with, but make it light. Light is not always as sparse as it might sound, though. I customarily wear a 1/8" gold chain around my neck, a leather-band watch, a 1/4" gold chain bracelet, 2 gold rings (my wedding band and engagement ring), and a pr. of 1/4" gold stud earrings. None of these items has ever set off the metal detectors, and I travel a LOT. Men's metal-band watches are often enough to set them off, however. It is also best not to wear belts through security; put it in the carryon when you get dressed, and put it on when you get to your gate. The detectors are not as sensitive to precious metals as they are base metals; so gold/platinum will not cause as much difficulty as costume jewelry.
(Underwire bras usually do NOT set off the detectors, but metal zippers and snaps on clothing will, so try not to wear clothing with lots of metal fastenings. The more there are, the more likely you are to hear a buzz.)
Ziplocs: Seed the outer pockets of your carryon bags with gallon-size slide ziploc freezer bags, and it is actually best to write your name on the bags. (Leave the bags in your carryon permanently so that they are always available for this purpose.) While you are in the security line, or before you get into it, pause and empty all your pocket stuff into the zipper bag (incl. keys, cell phone, men's wallets, heavy watches, etc.), and put the ziploc securely inside your carryon bag. This is important because TSA agents wear rubber gloves. It is not that I wish to imply that all checkpoint thieves are agents, because they are not, but the agents are the ones with the most opportunity to rifle through your belongings. It is very difficult to open a plastic zip-bag while wearing rubber gloves. Peek to check that the bag is still there before you leave security, but don't pause to put the items back on/in pockets until you reach your gate; that holds up the line.
Shoes: Wear slip-ons/loafers. This is not only so that you won't hold up the line, but so that you won't be distracted from watching your belongings while messing about with your shoes.
Electronics: PUT YOUR NAME ON ALL ELECTRONICS! On cell phones, you should be able to set the opening screen to display your name when it is turned on. For laptops, laminate two business cards and use double-sided tape to put one on both the top and bottom of the machine. If you don't have a business card, create something equivalent for the purpose, and make it noticeable. (Scotch-taping a soft card on doesn't work as well, because repeated handling will damage the card and pull it loose, and it looks kind of raggedy when you are using the laptop in meetings.) For large cameras, put a label on it somewhere, and make that label hard to remove. MP3 players (esp. Ipods) should be marked with name, but kept in cases when travelling, or at least put into your carryon while going through security; don't put them loose in the bins, because THEY WALK.
A word about putting yourself back together. Leave security before you stop to do it. Always count your items as you put them on the belt, and count them as you pick them up, but don't take time to restore them to your person while you are standing in the security area. Just gather up your stuff and walk completely clear of the area to the nearest open wall, *then* stop to put your jacket and shoes back on, etc. As I've already said, pocket stuff can wait until you reach your gate; you'll be killing time there anyway. There are two reasons for this: 1) you won't hold up the line as badly, and 2) you will not be frazzled doing it in a crowded area where people are rushing you. Being frazzled leads to losing things.
Also, re: checked baggage. Not only should you not put valuables in checked baggage, but also do not pack new items (clothes, souvies, etc.) with tags still on. These are valuable to thieves b/c they can take them back to the store for cash, and they look for them. Remove all tags before packing, and if you must keep the tags, pack them separately.
great tips! thanks!
I just think people in general now-a-days need to be aware and cautious - and anything that helps safeguard your belongings but gets you thru the check points safe and sound - are worth reading about.
(I wear 2 necklaces and 2 bracelets and a watch with a leather band, none of it comes off).
