Originally Posted by PhlyingRPh

This is all good, and frankly was almost exactly what I used to do in the pre-pat down era (except that I'm not a back pocket kind of guy).

As a result of my first four pat downs, I now place my wallet inside a carry-on bag before passing the bag through the X-Ray, in case I am selected to be rodgered. The reason for this is that during the pre-assault banter, I have been asked to remove everything from my pockets, and when I have done so a TSO has trundled off to the Xray to pass my wallet (and belt, in my case) through it. While this is bovine excrement of the first order, it results in me being far from my wallet, and it is out of visual sight for a short while.

Before I got smart and began putting it in my bag, I asked the TSO's taking my wallet to place it in a ziplock bag and seal it. Both TSO's (at different airports) thought that was a good idea, and said they would try to keep a supply of ziplock bags in the post-metal detector area, for such occasions, which I thought was rather nice. It would not only reduce the risk of someone taking something out of a wallet but also reduce the risk of claims of theft, real or imagined.

Anyway, all this to say, place your wallet deep in your carry-on so that if you are rodgered you don't have to lose sight of it. Oh, and taking one's belt off is also a good idea in this pat-down era.