At New York’s JFK airport, two or three people a day get arrested, usually for trying to steal stuff from the security line. How do I know? My laptop was filched off one of the belts recently, and that’s what the chatty Port Authority cop said while he was trying to comfort me. And those two or three are just the folks who are caught; one can only assume that even more people get away with their crimes.
I have no way of knowing if crime rates are as high at other airports around the U.S., but when I tweeted about the incident, about two dozen people immediately messaged me with their stories of goods being stolen from them at airports. The bottom line should be no big surprise: The security area ain’t so secure after all, especially when it comes to safeguarding your stuff.
One of those who responded to my tweet was Candy Harrington, the author of a wonderful book called “Barrier-Free Travel” and the country’s leading expert on travel for people with disabilities. She gave me a great tip about what to do if you’re pulled aside for extra screening (an issue she’s quite familiar with, as people with artificial limbs, hip replacements and other in-body items usually set off metal detectors). Her advice: Insist on picking up your items before you walk to the other area for screening. She says that when she’s pulled aside, she refuses to go until she has a chance to gather her personal items from the belt. She told me she does this even if it means she has to make a scene.
I received another tip, from a friend who wished to remain anonymous, that sometimes thieves purposefully cause slowdowns at the security checkpoint (perhaps by keeping change in their pockets or “forgetting” to take off their shoes) so that their accomplices can take items off the security belts once they pass through the metal detector. My friend’s advice is to keep your things with you until right before you go through screening. (Frankly, though, that doesn’t seem like a practical solution to me, because of the crowds that will be behind you, waiting to push through as well.)
By the way, my story has a somewhat happy ending. Although the Port Authority cops weren’t able to nab the guy who stole my laptop on the day of the theft, they did so a week later. They’d been able to identify him from the security tapes and picked him up when he returned to town. (I give kudos to the cops; they tried hard to help me and were exceedingly courteous throughout the whole ordeal.) Why only a somewhat happy ending? It’s because I had bought another laptop in the meantime, and spent hours setting it up; my old laptop is still at the DA’s office, being held as evidence.
After all was said and done, I was left wondering whether criminals specifically target airports. Though I have no evidence for this, you’d think that in this day of print-your-own boarding passes, it would be easier than ever to procure a boarding pass, slip through security, steal something and then wander out again.
Or is the reason for all the theft at the security line more psychological? Is seeing all of the valuable things unattended on the belt so tempting that otherwise law-abiding folks are transformed into thieves? I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m going to be much more vigilant the next time I go through security.
Have you ever had anything stolen from you at the airport? And do you have any tips on how to better safeguard your property when traveling, or ideas why the security line is such a popular spot for thieves? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
One tip to keep an eye on your belongings is to wait until you have direct access to pass through the metal detector, then x-ray your items. That way you'll probably be waiting when the exit the x-ray machine.
...and then there's the time when you see your laptop suddenly arcing towards airside--without you- as the TSA examiner picks it up to move it along the xray belt. Everyone in line gasps along with you, and the TSA agent, as it spins towards earth. Here's the conondrum: do you leap forward to save it--a dash that will send you (llegally) through the screener, past security and into airside without permission (scary--some of these people have guns)--or do you allow that laptop,loaded with all you hold near and dear, to realize its own destiny?
I chose the former--neatly and amazingly catching the laptop on its return to earth. There was a dead silence. I tiptoed back across the border and smiled, hugging my laptop. When a cheer erupted from the entire line of barefooted passengers, even the TSA agent grinned for a moment. No one asked me to resubmit my laptop, and it stayed in my arms as I braved the portal, until I'd recovered my shoes, my bag and my cell phone. I have wondered since--had I allowed it to crash, who would have been culpable--me or TSA--and what are the risks to running the barrier?
megrobb.typepad.com/britishtravel
send the LEAST valuable items into the scanner first, and the most valuable items last.
Funny story UK Walker and great tips, you two. Thanks!
My camera was stolen out of the security line about a year ago. Had all the pictures from our vacation. I never got it back. Total bummer!!!
Another reason to take a minimalist approach to traveling.
i had a TSA agent in Spokane search my purse, (containing all my cards and signed reciepts from my trip)with his back to me, blocking the view, 2 tables away. when i told them i wanted to at least stand with him and watch while he was rummaging through my stuff, i was told i had to stay where i was (2 tables away), and was asked if i "wanted to make it to my plane". Sometimes it's hard to stay in the same place as your belongings.
my laptop was stolen from San fran international airport. At first they didnt believe me and then checked the video tape. Then they got a picture of the culprit. I had my 10 month old baby with me and I am sure they targeted me because I had so much stuff and I had to lift everything on to checkpoint by myself including stroller while holding baby. Crazy though true got a lead on the computer told police who did NOTHING. Had all my baby pictures on computer. So totally annoyed with the lack of follow up. when I returned through security 6 weeks later and they told me to move it along (had baby again) told TSA or equivalent contracting company) to get off my case, I was so rude to them but they backed off.
Some countries give you a claim number for your stuff, placed between dividers on the belt (like the grocery check out line) to carry thru the metal detector, allowing you to claim your goods on the other side. A security agent at the end of the belt matches people to their belonings.
The Barcelona airport is infamous for thefts. When my carry on bag was stolen from me, right beneath my own eyes, the police admitted that there are more thefts than they can cope with. Beware of incidents involving irate passengers yelling at ticket agents--it is often a distraction for accomplices to steal while you observe the fracas.
Another common ruse is after renting a car, someone will approach you to inform you of a flat tire (real or imagined), while you exit the car to investigate, an accomplice will reach in and steal your purse and other items.
Beware Barcelona, for all its charms, it can be dangerous!
I just thinking what airport teft is in the court.
is there no case between the customers,Security and Insurance companies about the airport teft.
I mighty seek the Aiport Insurance companies to sign my bagages before hand it to airport security or use the airport lawyers to defend them.
I would never have considered that items would be stolen from an airport - especially with security everywhere. I travel overseas quite a bit so this is definitely an eye opener! Thanks, Frank @ http://www.debthelpquick.co.uk
@EngineerInFL, may be you can travel without laptop, camera, cell phone, but you still have your wallet. And it only in US airports happens to me, then your belongings are still on the belt and you are pulled away for additional screening without allowing to pickup your stuff. After last time it happened I just start avoid US as transit country even in a lot of cases it cheaper to fly through US, but I think you can loose much more then you save on your ticket.
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