from: Christopher Elliott <[email protected]>
[email protected],

date: Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 4:30 PM
subject: Re: Theft by TSA - I'm a TSO at SEA.
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details 4:30 PM (5 hours ago) Reply


Ms. @@@@@, thank you for taking the time to write. You make a very
valid point. I appreciate it.

Chris


--
Christopher Elliott
Blogger/syndicated columnist/TV host



[email protected],

date: Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 12:49 PM
subject: Theft by TSA - I'm a TSO at SEA.
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details 12:49 PM (9 hours ago) Reply


Mr Elliott,

I am a TSO at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Do you know how many people leave behind items in the bins as they hurry through security? How many of these people that are missing things that they put in bins call the airport lost and found? We turn in rings, glasses, laptops, umbrella's, camcorders, jackets, medication, wallets, keys, cell phones, purses and whole carry on bags. How about a study on airport lost and found? How many items that are never claimed there being blamed on a TSO when you go through security? We even had a gentlemen walk away without his shoes, he came back for them 15 minuets later after his feet became cold. Do you know that it's not necessary to remove rings and glasses but people do it. When I see men place their wallets in bins I tell them to remove all metal from them and put them back in their pockets. If they have a money clip attached to the wallet I tell them to remove the cash before sending it through. People pull money clips out of their pockets that are full of cash thinking nothing of tossing it in the bin. When I see people doing things that put them at risk of losing their items from theft I educate them. Theft also comes in the form of their fellow flying public. It's so easy for the person in front of you or behind you if you are delayed to snag something from your bin. We even tracked down one passenger who took his laptop and the person's behind him. My favorite is after a passenger has finished packing up their items then blames us for their missing purse, glasses, wallet, boarding pass, cell phone, ipod....you get the idea here. First they start off by yelling that we stold the item. Never does anyone think that they already put it in their bag on their shoulder in their pocket, on top of their head or never took it out of their pocket to begin with. After listening to someone yelling at you, accusing you of stealing their purse it's hard to not make a mean comment as you point out that it's resting on their shoulder. Most people are so embarrassed by their behavior that they leave as quickly as possible never apologizing for the false accusation. When a passenger can't find an item after he's packed back up we can run the items back through the x-ray and find them in the jacket or bags. Folks are in such a hurry that they don't remember placing them in the bag before putting them in the x-ray or forgot they already put them away. If you want to know how to get through security fast, easy and safe the best person to ask is a TSO because we've seen and heard it all.

TSO/SEA