In the past few years, not one of my visiting friends...or, myself has returned home without having our bags searched and having something stolen. I have been more than willing to overlook this when it happened occassionally, but it's out of control now, and I have decided to bring some attention to the matter. The usual excuses are played out...poor country, low pay, desperate people, etc. The fact of the matter is there is no legitimate excuse for going into someone's luggage and stealing personal items that are not considered contraband!
- Thread starter loscharamicos
- Start date
Continuing Theft at Airport
Baggage handlers are the same all over the world. Poorly paid, physically exhausting and back breaking work with very little job satisfaction. How do you know your bags weren't ransacked at the other end?
I work at POP airport. Been here for 7 years. I've never seen handlers going through luggage here. Not to say it doesn't happen, but your bags are always under the eyes of someone. Not only is there the IATA required security scan, they are also screened for narcotics too. So you have security, customs and drugs officials screening your bags before they are escorted to the aircraft. Unless they are all in it together, they wouldn't hesitate to grass someone up if they caught someone with their hands in a bag. Most wouldn't risk what could be considered as a decent job, just to get their hands on a hairdryer or an electric razor.
However, the security personnel at so called civilised countries have TSA keys and are allowed to enter any bag that may cause suspicion without the owner's consent. See a bag with a laptop inside with your xray machine on a bag labelled to go to the DR. Open it up, nick the laptop and blame the POOR thieves in the poor country!
And if you're dumb enough to pack anything valuable in your checked suitcase, you deserve to get it nicked!
I work at POP airport. Been here for 7 years. I've never seen handlers going through luggage here. Not to say it doesn't happen, but your bags are always under the eyes of someone. Not only is there the IATA required security scan, they are also screened for narcotics too. So you have security, customs and drugs officials screening your bags before they are escorted to the aircraft. Unless they are all in it together, they wouldn't hesitate to grass someone up if they caught someone with their hands in a bag. Most wouldn't risk what could be considered as a decent job, just to get their hands on a hairdryer or an electric razor.
However, the security personnel at so called civilised countries have TSA keys and are allowed to enter any bag that may cause suspicion without the owner's consent. See a bag with a laptop inside with your xray machine on a bag labelled to go to the DR. Open it up, nick the laptop and blame the POOR thieves in the poor country!
And if you're dumb enough to pack anything valuable in your checked suitcase, you deserve to get it nicked!
never had anything stolen travelling through POP.
But then , its mostly dirty clothes...nothing attractive
But then , its mostly dirty clothes...nothing attractive
Is that a propper statement from someone who declares to have been working at the POP airport for seven years ?
What exactly do you do at the airport beeza ?
I fix planes and fly em! Been in aviation for 25 years. Rule number one.......only YOU are responsible for your own luggage.
Back in the day when I was in the Air Force, some young air force pilot "Told" me to put his suitcase "on board". So I duly did, as he was an officer and I was an NCO. I put them "on board" a plane bound for the Falklands! We were headed for the Gulf!
Great ! Sounds like a nice job.
Let's just remember that a LOST wallet and its content still belong to it's owner.
And if you could ask for my missing golf shoes and bag substracted at POP airport i'll be grateful,AMEX paid for them already
but i'm still waiting for an apologize .
Let's just remember that a LOST wallet and its content still belong to it's owner.
And if you could ask for my missing golf shoes and bag substracted at POP airport i'll be grateful,AMEX paid for them already
but i'm still waiting for an apologize .
It's happened to me personally my first trip here when I got home & realized I had a valuable item stolen from my suitcase (too embarrassed to say) then I wised up & exclusively packed expendable items under the plane to lower the risk, only to have petty ish like a overnight bag with cologne, deoderant & toothpaste donated to the airline theft fund. It was a brand new bottle of cologne too I want justice!
When coming from Miami on april 1 departing 16.50 from Miami to Santiago I had a strange experience. When coming to the security check (TSA) they ordered me to put my notebook out of my handbag, witch is normal and I was already doing that.
After the check I wait for my belongings on the band but the laptop did not appear. I was a little bit stressed and took my belongings because after me comes other belongings on the band and other people behind me. Then my son said, Dad do you put your laptop in your handbag, I did not see the laptop cames out of the machine? I ask the lady " Where is my laptop and she answered" You put it in your bag! I checked again but no laptop. People behind me said" We did not see a laptop and first I thought somebody on the line took my laptop. I ask again" Where is my laptop and after 30 second the laptop comes out of the machine. But remember about 6 or seven other peoples was behind me and got their belongings. I ask the lady a little bit upset" Where was my laptop, why you hold him. She smiled and said: He just leave the machine a little bit later. Sorry but I think they tried to take the laptop.
What do you think?
After the check I wait for my belongings on the band but the laptop did not appear. I was a little bit stressed and took my belongings because after me comes other belongings on the band and other people behind me. Then my son said, Dad do you put your laptop in your handbag, I did not see the laptop cames out of the machine? I ask the lady " Where is my laptop and she answered" You put it in your bag! I checked again but no laptop. People behind me said" We did not see a laptop and first I thought somebody on the line took my laptop. I ask again" Where is my laptop and after 30 second the laptop comes out of the machine. But remember about 6 or seven other peoples was behind me and got their belongings. I ask the lady a little bit upset" Where was my laptop, why you hold him. She smiled and said: He just leave the machine a little bit later. Sorry but I think they tried to take the laptop.
What do you think?
You're not a Captain by any chance are you? The Royal Air Force equivalent of a Flight Lieutenant (pronounced leftenant)
It was considered "sport" to get one over the officer air crew. As they oft tried to get one over us non-commissioned ground crew. All good fun really. The Royal Air Force isn't really an armed force. These days they couldn't defend the Isle of Wight. You could probably fit the whole of Betty Windor's flying circus on board one of those Nimitz class carriers. The RAF is more of a posh boys flying club!
A warning from Newark Airport (although it is much more widespread than that)
Convicted TSA Officer reveal secrets of thefts at airports - YouTube
A warning from JFK Airport
Tsa has 200 theft cases per day at John F. Kennedy International Airport: CBS New York. - YouTube
Convicted TSA Officer reveal secrets of thefts at airports - YouTube
A warning from JFK Airport
Tsa has 200 theft cases per day at John F. Kennedy International Airport: CBS New York. - YouTube