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Valuables Stolen At X-Ray

seashoreCM

All around nice guy.
Joined
Aug 25, 2001
I'm going to have to tell y'all to collect your things from the airport X-ray conveyor before going with the agent for a more thorough search. And be insistent although not loud (except to yell Stop Thief if needed). Airport agents are not looking out for your stuff. You gotta take the time and look out for your stuff. Do not let your valuables out of your sight. And stay close to your things unless you are prepared to lunge back towards them, even if barefoot, if you see a thief take them.

The following was from USA Today:

Stricter airport security is producing an unwelcome byproduct: a rash of lost laptop computers.

Lost-and-found counters report being flooded with jewelry, keys, cellphones and especially laptops left behind at checkpoints since enhanced screening went into effect after Sept. 11.

Airports where misplaced laptops and other personal electronics are showing up include:

* Seattle-Tacoma. Screeners turned in 115 laptops left at checkpoints in the last three months of 2001. That compares with three laptops turned in during the same period of 2000. A worker has been assigned full time to try to track down laptop owners.

* Denver. Ninety-six laptops and 74 cellphones were recovered at security checkpoints over two weeks alone from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11. The problem has become so acute that airport officials have posted signs saying ''Got laptop?'' in hopes that passengers will catch a glimpse as they leave checkpoints.

* San Francisco. Police are investigating the disappearance of nine laptops recently from a single checkpoint. Officers recommended that private security screeners make changes to help reduce the losses.

The problem stems from new procedures that require passengers to remove their laptops from their cases and put them through X-ray machines. They forget to pick them up or grab a stranger's laptop by mistake.

''It's clearly connected to the change of habit,'' says Dennis Hatch, who runs Seattle-Tacoma's lost-and-found department.
It's even worse for fliers who are singled out for magnetic wand searches and may be separated from their valuables on the X-ray belt for minutes.

Hatch says he constantly fields calls from ''well-established, professional, intelligent individuals who break down in tears'' from losing a laptop. ''Their day is devastated.''

The new Transportation Security Administration has already ordered security screeners as soon as possible to let passengers stay within sight of X-rayed valuables while being screened.

''It's common sense,'' spokesman Jim Mitchell says.
Private security-screening companies say it's not their job to sort out passengers' belongings coming through the X-ray machine.

''As a general rule, we're not there to make sure everybody gets their stuff,'' says Jessica Neal, spokeswoman for Huntleigh, one of the largest screening companies. ''We're there to make sure everyone's safe and secure.''

Business fliers and their companies are hoping for improvements.
''I hear horror stories every day,'' says Kevin Iwamoto, travel manager for Hewlett-Packard, who has had to deal with employees who have reported laptops stolen at checkpoints.

He suggests travelers tape colored paper to laptops to identify them.

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"There is another post like this but I couldn't find it and the search function was disabled, so easier to make a new post, this one"
 
Very simply, don't walk through the metal detector until your belongings are into the x-ray machine, and do'nt put the stuff through x-ray until no one is in front of you to walk through the metal detector. If they want to pull you aside for additional screening refuse until you have picked up all of your possesions. Leave the laptop case unzipped so it's obvious it's not in there when you pick it up. And be smart, make sure your pockets are empty and you have nothing metal on so you won't be delayed in picking up your stuff at the end of the x-ray by having to walk back and forth through the metal detector. It's easiest if you have more than one person travelling, the first person goes through while second person puts items through the machine, then once all is through the second person goes through.

Anne
 
I tried something similar at the Indy airport and ended up getting yelled at for it. There were signs saying all cameras must be proven to be cameras. As I was getting my video camera out for them to look at, they started yelling at me because I was holding up the line. (DH was infront of me and we were in no way holding up the line) I pointed at the sign and asked if they wanted to see the camera, they rudely told me to put it on the belt and go thru. At that point in time, Thanksgiving, there was no way I was going to question a person over a sign. Hopefully things have calmed down since then.

I did find it funny that the armed forces people were a LOT nicer than airport security, even joking about the parked cars auctioning them off as they were being towed away. (I think they were trying to lighten the mood and not scare anyone as to why the car was being towed) As they were hooking the car up, security came running over yelling at the guy to hurry up because there could be a bomb in it. He yelled it loud enough for everyone in the area to hear. Talk about scaring people! (Like yelling fire in a movie theature)

Very interesting artical, OP. Thanks for sharing.
 


I was worried about my laptop when we went in December, so I put a label with my name on both front & back. I was worried that if 2 were going through at the same time they could be mixed up.
 
I hate to tell you this, but they will MAKE you leave your stuff is you get pulled aside for a hand check. There is not much you can do. I do try to watch my stuff, but sometimes they won't let me. If you pitch a fit, they can arrest you or just escort you back out! (I have seen it happen) The best thing is to EMPTY your pockets, take off big metal jewerly and put it in your purse. (I have not had a problem with my gold earrings or necklaces, but costume jewerly is an issue) Also, belt buckels can set these things off so I take mine off.

However, as I read the USA Today article, theft is not near as big an issue as forgetfulness.
 
I had that happen coming back from a Thanksgiving visit. The screeners tried to pull both DH and I out of line as we came through security; they wanted to hand search the bags from me, and they wanted to wand DH.

I told them I would be happy to let them search the bags, but not until I got my hands on DS (age 4). Husband was trying to get to me in order to hand over DS so that they could wand my husband down, and the security guys got huffy with us both. They were each insisting that we go in opposite directions simultaneously, and they wanted us to leave DS
standing alone at the end of the belt. Not bloody likely! I was polite, but I was not budging an inch unless one of us had that child!

I insisted that the one who was searching bags wait to search them until they finished searching DH, so that he could watch DS while I carried over the bags to be searched.
There also was a laptop involved, and I was able to get it re-bagged while DH was wanded.
 


Originally posted by CarolA
I hate to tell you this, but they will MAKE you leave your stuff is you get pulled aside for a hand check. There is not much you can do. I do try to watch my stuff, but sometimes they won't let me. If you pitch a fit, they can arrest you or just escort you back out! (I have seen it happen) The best thing is to EMPTY your pockets, take off big metal jewerly and put it in your purse. (I have not had a problem with my gold earrings or necklaces, but costume jewerly is an issue) Also, belt buckels can set these things off so I take mine off.

However, as I read the USA Today article, theft is not near as big an issue as forgetfulness.

When DH got pulled aside for a hand check he scooped up his laptop and cell phone so quick that they didn't have time to tell him to leave them. He was over to the little table with the LT and phone down on it so fast taht their heads were spinning.

When I flew to LV a couple weeks ago theyw ere yelling at me to get through the metal detector, but the x-ray was still clogged so I couldn't get my stuff in. I just yelled back that I couldn't just leave my stuff unattended, as their signs were very specific about unattended property, DUH! Had a few people behind me snickering, because the lady who was yelling at me was nasty anyhow. I think she was hoping I'd set off the detector so she could do a body cavity search on me.

Anne
 
Bumping! I'm flying Delta from IAD in late April and would love to extend my vacation. Is it really $100? I guess I should give them a call.
 
We have a game plan for our trip this April ... three of us traveling (DH, 12 yr old DD, and myself) ... DH will go through the metal detector first, DD & I will put everything on the conveyor belt. Then she'll go through the detector, followed by me. DH can start grabbing stuff at the other end with DDs help. If any of us gets pulled aside (unlikely all 3 of us will) the others will p/u stuff off the conveyor belt.
 
ivanova, that is just what I was thinking. DH is biker looking and will probably be searched. This means that DS and I have to go thru first, which is something I have to remember when the time comes. LOL

I was upset over our Thanksgiving trip. I had already warned DH that if they gave me any grief and want to search me, my shirt was coming off right there infront of everyone! ;) (The only time I've ever had problems is when the tripod was in my bag, other than that, I've never even set off the metal detector) That was when people were reporting that passangers were being searched out in the open instead of in a room or behind a curtain. As we left the security area, I thru a mock hissy fit saying I was bummed that I didn't get to rip my shirt off. I guess we were standing too close to the military guys because they started laughing at me. I figure in a bad situation, make the best of it and laugh it off. (although I would never joke in a serious situation, if you know what i mean)
 
25 hours is a long drive for us, but hearing all the hassle stories makes me want to drive even more. This thing has gotten out of hand. Things should have been different pre- Sept. 11th but now it has gotten just plain stupid. They miss a guy with explosives in his shoe, a guy with 7 or 8 knives on him, but I have heard from people I know, and people they know, who have been treated with total lack of respect, humiliated, and interrogated like THEY were criminals. HELLO, who is on trial here anyways. They want people to fly again, why should we? We hated flying before Sept. 11th. I was already afraid. We were at WDW on Sept. 11th and drove 1550 unplanned miles to get home the following day. After much debate, I am willing to fly if DH says he prefers over driving; another no-picnic choice. But just last night he said that aside from the fear of crashing, aside from the 9/11 and possible terrorist threats, fyling has become a major nusaince. We have not flown since Sept. 11th and I really don't think we want to for a while. I want them to make it safer, and I think most people expect a little inconvenience, and to be searched more carefully, but lets get real............. this has really gotten out of hand! I know people who have had tweezers, finger nail clippers, and even an eyebrow pencil sharpener taken from them, yet another person's bag was closed right back up when they discovered it contained DIRTY laundry. :rolleyes: I don't mean to offend or appear that discrimination is ok, but certain people FIT a profile and certain people do not. Joe Blow from Idaho with his wife and 3 kids do not fit. Gram and gramps coming back from Fla. for the winter do not fit. Poeple with 1 way tickets, no luggage, and other SUSPICIOUS characteristics fit the profile. Let's stop ***** footing around to make it look like no-one is exempt, and start checking the people who more closely resemble "suspicion".
 
Originally posted by msdis
Joe Blow from Idaho with his wife and 3 kids do not fit. Gram and gramps coming back from Fla. for the winter do not fit. Poeple with 1 way tickets, no luggage, and other SUSPICIOUS characteristics fit the profile. Let's stop ***** footing around to make it look like no-one is exempt, and start checking the people who more closely resemble "suspicion".

Um, Timothy MC Veigh would not have aroused suspicion. Searching a person because of the way person looks and where they are from is racist. The best defense is random checking of "anyone", even if it's a ten year old girl from Omaha. If her number comes up, she gets searched.

Yes, we need to pay closer attention to certain profiles, such as a person paying cash for a one way ticket, getting on with no luggage, and such, but siply implying someone is a threat because of the color of their skin or national orgin is not only morally wrong, it's just stupid.

Anne
 
Print the USA Today article copy at the top of this thread and bring it to the airport to show to security agents.

Better yet, don't take the laptop to Disney, so you don't have to risk delays that spoil your vacation.

But if traveling on business maybe you should let yourself be escorted out (would they really arrest you for protecting your things?) and bring some lawsuits later. Arrange to have equipment shipped as opposed to carried. Have your company spell out procedures, down to the choreographed details, on what to do in case of difficulty at security checkpoints or elsewhere.

Maybe more people on business (USA Today named Hewlett Packard) should refuse to carry laptops. Why not have computers ready at the destination and people just carry diskettes? Another thing to try, have your boss sign for responsibility in absentia (people say incorrectly that this is not possible) while you travel with the laptop.

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I don't like the idea of children carrying laptops to school. Parents should, if they wish, squelch such school district projects by forbidding their kids to carry valuables in public. It is far cheaper even to give each child two stationary computers, one for school and one for home, and the kids just carry diskettes back and forth.
 
A floppy will not do for me; even a CD won't. I would have to spend 3 hours downloading and loading up my entire demo setup everywhere I went. Most of my clients don't have PC's with a CD drive, anyway, let alone an overhead projector that will work with a computer. There just are not enough hours in the day to waste that way, and I'm not about to ship my machine and take the risk that it will have been damaged while it is out of my sight.
 
Anne

BTW- so far there have been no women, children, elderly, blonde, red-head, asian, mexican, hispanic, and the list goes on..... people who have been, or appear to have been, involved in the recent crimes against the U.S. I really am not a bigot and I DO have high moral and ethical values along with respect for ALL people, but the shoe really does fit here, and I don't think we need to pretend it doesn't. Are all arab people bad? I hardly believe that! But these crimes have been committed by a certain group who ALSO misrepresent the culture they come from, and if they were a more diverse appearing group then it would be more difficult to classify, but they are not. If Americans had done this to them then I would expect all Americans should be searched and I would want them to be. The safety of other Americans would also depend on it.
And saying if someone's "number" comes up is a very stupid way of dealing with the search process. And yes, we still have our own share of idiots like Mcveigh, but simply selecting people to search because their last name starts with an "S" (this did happen) is not the kind of lottery I care to play.
 
Actually one of the more recent Middle Eastern suicide bomber attacks was perpetrated by a woman. Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) was travelling on a British passport and with a very Brit sounding name.

The best defense is suprise, with a terrorist not knowing if they will be chosen or not. The only way to suprise them is with random checking. If we only check Middle Eastern men in their twenties, they'll use non-Middle Eastern looking women to deploy the terror. Terrorists know no boundries with their methods. They are not soldiers in an identifiable uniform. It's gorrilla warfare at it's finest, just like the women and children of Viet Nam and Korea who blew themselves and our military up for their cause.

Anne
 
I was selected for some kind of "random" check immediately after I passed through the metal detectors on my recent trip to Orlando/WDW. The screener ASKED me if I had all of my things from the belt before walking me over to a table off to the side. She was very professional, very polite and seemed to know exactly what she was doing. Didn't hold up the line at all. This was at MSP.

I'm sorry to hear about all of the "drunk with power" people you all have described. Security doesn't have to be rude and mean to get the job done.
 
They check randomly, it may be number x in line, it may be a letter, it may be the way your ticket is numbered. That is what RANDOM means.
IMHO, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
If you don't like the security measures, don't fly. The minute you buy that ticket you are agreeing to follow the rules, if you don't like the rules, don't buy the ticket.
With SWA, if there is a random "x" on your boarding pass, you get checked, age, gender, color or anything else has nothing to do with the "x". The computer assigns it.
Sure, it can cause an inconvienance, but, that is the way it is now. Are you suggesting they profile just Arab looking people, who are NOT always dark haired, olive skinned with brown eyes? Are you suggesting that they not check the blonde, blue eyed whites? With hair dye, colored contact lenses, anyone can look like a "summer blonde".
You need to stop taking this so personally. Trust me, they are not after you. Prevention is the best cure for anything.
 
I was stopped going thru the metal detactor and asked to please go for a body search where I had to take off my boots and be patted down. I only had a pocketbook on me and only wedding ring for metal. I refused to move until my back cleared xray. The security guard said he would have to insist. I went over and got my bag anyway and they didn't arrest me. After all this they never even opened my bag to look inside but thoroughly ran their hands over my body which made me abit uncomfortable. SinceI'm a frequent flyer gold member, I don't get overly excited about pushy security people...you need to be polite but insistant. I would rather miss my flight and then cause a royal ruckus with my airline than take a chanceat losing everything I own of value in my pocketbook. I'm for airport security as I fly 2-3 times internationally a month but common sense tells you to not leave your valuables unattended....I don't
 

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