Heathrow T5 Security - Watch out !
Aug 1, 2018, 4:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London UK
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Titanium Lifetime/UA/JetBlue
Posts: 618
Heathrow T5 Security - Watch out !
deleted
Last edited by markzz2; Aug 2, 2018 at 8:08 am
Aug 1, 2018, 5:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Maidenhead, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 443
This reads like the kind of rubbish my aunt posts on Facebook so I would take with a pinch of salt unless it happened to you personally. There is CCTV so any theft would surely be obvious and incredibly stupid.
Aug 1, 2018, 6:48 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
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simple way to avoid issues is to always put your watch or whatever valuables you have inside your bag in the security preparation area
Waiting for the beep at the scanner for stuff you know will set it off just delays everyone else.
Don't be that person* that delays everyone else.
(* FT rules prevent me from giving an accurate description of such people but it involves combinations of 4 letter words)
Clearing security is not hard if you are ready. Unfortunately a lot of people - especially frequent fliers - don't think the rules apply to them.
Waiting for the beep at the scanner for stuff you know will set it off just delays everyone else.
Don't be that person* that delays everyone else.
(* FT rules prevent me from giving an accurate description of such people but it involves combinations of 4 letter words)
Clearing security is not hard if you are ready. Unfortunately a lot of people - especially frequent fliers - don't think the rules apply to them.
Aug 1, 2018, 7:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA,CX, BA, Priority Club, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 1,397
I had a very similar experience, but NOT at T5. Alarm went off when my son passed thru the sensor, asked my son took off his fitbit, which cost maybe $200. Went thru x-ray, but nothing came out, they stopped the machine and search for good 5 mins, nothing. End up it was, indeed, found on the floor.
I guess "the brush" pushed it down... and I would never think that's their intention to "steal" someone's watch while under CCTV. Especially, in my son's case, it's clearly NOT expensive by any means.
Another time, my wife's cell phone, which I asked the agent to help looking under the machine, again found on the floor.
Since then, I put everything into my carry on bag (if I carried one) before going to x-ray, no more lose item.
I guess "the brush" pushed it down... and I would never think that's their intention to "steal" someone's watch while under CCTV. Especially, in my son's case, it's clearly NOT expensive by any means.
Another time, my wife's cell phone, which I asked the agent to help looking under the machine, again found on the floor.
Since then, I put everything into my carry on bag (if I carried one) before going to x-ray, no more lose item.
Aug 1, 2018, 7:39 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
For what it’s worth, one of the TSA agents in a PreCheck lane said that Rolexes are one kind of watch which is more likely to set off the metal detector. (And, I wasn’t wearing one; nor, do I own one.) So, based on the information from the TSA agent, I would be inclined to be less suspicious about the incidents you’ve relayed which occurred at Heathrow. It is entirely possible that the security folks were simply trying to prevent the watches from setting off the metal detector.
Aug 1, 2018, 7:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,118
Found a fitbit and charging cable on the floor at T3 security withing 2 seconds last week. Stay there for an hour and you might find a rolex or ipad.
Aug 1, 2018, 8:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
Well it was once known as Thiefrow...
That aside it must be one of the most heavily surveilled locations on the planet, surely nobody would be stupid enough to steal there. Having said that, my watch goes in the pocket of my carry on when i pass through security. Not worth the risk.
That aside it must be one of the most heavily surveilled locations on the planet, surely nobody would be stupid enough to steal there. Having said that, my watch goes in the pocket of my carry on when i pass through security. Not worth the risk.
Aug 2, 2018, 12:01 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
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Aug 2, 2018, 12:17 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 59
Indeed - had the same problem with a Ł5 belt at T5 security.
The only reason I was so keen to get it back was that my trousers were falling down.
The only reason I was so keen to get it back was that my trousers were falling down.
Aug 2, 2018, 12:21 am
#10
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC back to silver, Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 406
Straight after check in I put wallet/watch/smartphone inside hand luggage in one go and take the plastic bag with liquids out, problem solved..
Aug 2, 2018, 12:30 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Asking people to remove watches - especially metallic ones - is common across airports and there is frankly no reason to wait till it first sets the alarm if you know it will.
theft at security checkpoints was (and possibly still is) quite common at US airports where you didn’t use to need to show a bp to go through and can exit immediately. Two accomplices, one before and one after an expensive looking target. First one goes through (usually wearing a cap or so to hide as much as possible from cameras) smoothly but slowly. The one behind the victim has very few things to take off but goes to the security gate after the victim has emptied their first expensive possessions but before them. They set the alarm and ‘realise’ they have forgotten their belt, then their keys etc wasting as much time as possible, thereby enabling accomplice no1 to disappear with anything worthwhile amongst the victim’s possessions and disappear. Accomplice no2 then goes through and disappears (with his/her own property) before anyone realises what happened.
there were sadly lots of victims in the late 90s early 2000s but hopefully the extra checks now will have made this rarer.
theft at security checkpoints was (and possibly still is) quite common at US airports where you didn’t use to need to show a bp to go through and can exit immediately. Two accomplices, one before and one after an expensive looking target. First one goes through (usually wearing a cap or so to hide as much as possible from cameras) smoothly but slowly. The one behind the victim has very few things to take off but goes to the security gate after the victim has emptied their first expensive possessions but before them. They set the alarm and ‘realise’ they have forgotten their belt, then their keys etc wasting as much time as possible, thereby enabling accomplice no1 to disappear with anything worthwhile amongst the victim’s possessions and disappear. Accomplice no2 then goes through and disappears (with his/her own property) before anyone realises what happened.
there were sadly lots of victims in the late 90s early 2000s but hopefully the extra checks now will have made this rarer.
Aug 2, 2018, 12:31 am
#12
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
I'd be more concerned about a very expensive watch that could get damaged by putting it on a tray..
Aug 2, 2018, 12:32 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: BA (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 1,256
Absolutely right! I don't know why everyone is being so sarcastic towards OP - I find the alleged incident entirely credible. If you set off the detector (which can occur as a random event) you may spend a minute or so being frisked by a security guy which is easily time enough for anyone (security or another passenger) to help themselves to any valuables that have passed through the machine and are lying in a tray. I always put wallet and watch in my carry-on and zip it closed, and would urge others to do the same.
Aug 2, 2018, 12:39 am
#14
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
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The only place that seems to get stroppy about watches is Heathrow. I stick mine in my bag every time now.
Aug 2, 2018, 12:43 am
#15
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,078
I thought watches, like belts, had always to be removed and placed in the trays at security screening using metal detectors.
I do not have a watch, but I have a silver bracelet and a necklace that can set the alarm off, so I put them in a pocket of my bag while queuing and wear them back on as soon as I am on the other side.
I do not have a watch, but I have a silver bracelet and a necklace that can set the alarm off, so I put them in a pocket of my bag while queuing and wear them back on as soon as I am on the other side.