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SteveC · September 5th, 2004, 16:37

Exerpt from Booth Newspapers' story:[ QUOTE ]
Column: Don't travel with anything too dear - at least not in your luggage
Sunday, September 05, 2004
By Dennis Tanner
In the last few weeks I have received more than a dozen e-mails from airline passengers complaining about articles stolen from their checked bags and reporting government-approved locks removed from their luggage.

Invariably they ask:

1. How prevalent are thefts from checked bags?

2. Who is doing it?

3. Who should complaints be made to, the airline or the Transportation Security Administration?

4. If security folks can pull things out of checked bags, couldn't they also put items into them?

Briefly, the answers are:

1. You are hardly alone, according to airline analysts, travel agents and Internet postings. Most of the thefts targeted small, easily secreted items, although posters on two Internet travel bulletin boards said they had lost items as large as a man's suit and dress shirts. Neither the airlines nor the TSA will discuss theft reports, but both say they are working to eliminate them. Of course, they would not detail what is being done, citing security.

2. Based on arrests, both TSA and airline employees are responsible. In the last two months, almost two dozen TSA employees have been charged with thefts at a half-dozen of the nation's nearly 500 airports. Most arrests stemmed from undercover operations in the security areas.

3. Complaints should be sent to both the airlines and the TSA. Two readers said that they eventually received settlements from their carriers -- in one case Northwest and in the other American -- but they had to pursue their claims with letters and phone calls. Two other readers noted that their cases are pending with their airlines.

4. There is no doubt that the thefts have raised concern about the security in -- of all places -- airport security operations. Again, the airlines and the TSA say they are addressing the issue.

As far as the problems with locks, it's another program that looked great on paper and hasn't worked well in the field. Although the TSA says that its screeners are able to open and close the locks after inspecting checked bags, they acknowledge that many locks are being cut off and tossed away. Travelers don't discover the problem until they pick up their bags at their destinations.

The best advice at the moment: Leave your checked bags unlocked and don't pack anything that has monetary or sentimental value.

[/ QUOTE ]

Story here.

September 5th, 2004, 16:37	#1
SteveC Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,641	Stealing from checked luggage? Exerpt from Booth Newspapers' story:[ QUOTE ] Column: Don't travel with anything too dear - at least not in your luggage Sunday, September 05, 2004 By Dennis Tanner In the last few weeks I have received more than a dozen e-mails from airline passengers complaining about articles stolen from their checked bags and reporting government-approved locks removed from their luggage. Invariably they ask: 1. How prevalent are thefts from checked bags? 2. Who is doing it? 3. Who should complaints be made to, the airline or the Transportation Security Administration? 4. If security folks can pull things out of checked bags, couldn't they also put items into them? Briefly, the answers are: 1. You are hardly alone, according to airline analysts, travel agents and Internet postings. Most of the thefts targeted small, easily secreted items, although posters on two Internet travel bulletin boards said they had lost items as large as a man's suit and dress shirts. Neither the airlines nor the TSA will discuss theft reports, but both say they are working to eliminate them. Of course, they would not detail what is being done, citing security. 2. Based on arrests, both TSA and airline employees are responsible. In the last two months, almost two dozen TSA employees have been charged with thefts at a half-dozen of the nation's nearly 500 airports. Most arrests stemmed from undercover operations in the security areas. 3. Complaints should be sent to both the airlines and the TSA. Two readers said that they eventually received settlements from their carriers -- in one case Northwest and in the other American -- but they had to pursue their claims with letters and phone calls. Two other readers noted that their cases are pending with their airlines. 4. There is no doubt that the thefts have raised concern about the security in -- of all places -- airport security operations. Again, the airlines and the TSA say they are addressing the issue. As far as the problems with locks, it's another program that looked great on paper and hasn't worked well in the field. Although the TSA says that its screeners are able to open and close the locks after inspecting checked bags, they acknowledge that many locks are being cut off and tossed away. Travelers don't discover the problem until they pick up their bags at their destinations. The best advice at the moment: Leave your checked bags unlocked and don't pack anything that has monetary or sentimental value. [/ QUOTE ] Story here.