When they are finished screening my bag, I inventory it before it leaves the shiny table. I will say "I want to make a quick check to make sure everything got back in here." This has never been a problem. I will also ask permission to repack it. It allows me to check without seeming to be checking. Anyway, the case is crammed full with a place for everything and everything in its place. Only I know how to pack it. I am prepared to say "My ________ is missing. Get an LEO and pull the tapes, now." I've never had to do this. The things in my bag are very valuable, about $15,000 to replace, but they do not look like they are. Just the special RG58-CU cables with Amphenol connectors are over $1500.

That's like saying the FDA should approve a drug for toenail fungus which causes heart attacks in 25% of people taking it, even though "far more" people don't have a heart attack then do.

If Spokesholess-in-Chief Kristin's official bio is to be believed:


One of those 30 is our close & personal friend, Blogdad Bob.

I know several of us keep preaching this, but I'll post it again. Long before the TSA emerged from the swamp, I took everything out of my pockets -- wallet, keys, coins -- and took off my watch and placed them in a locking compartment of my carry-on. I did this long before I got within sight of the checkpoint. I knew where everything was. Today, the screening clerks are going to have to wait until my frisking is over before they paw through my carry-on. In the heat of battle and confusion at a checkpoint, the clerks have the upper hand and they know it. So, the best thing you can do is to safeguard everything before you get to the checkpoint in as few places as possible. If nothing else, you need to give your undivided attention to executing your self-directed opt-out plan.

Why do they need more than one bot that can cut/paste sound bytes like 'nation's professional security force,' 'zero tolerance for theft,' and 'respect and sensitivity?'

Every time I go through airport screening, everything in my pockets, except for the pen in my shirt pocket gets locked up in my carry on, the pen is there for writing down any screeners name and badge numbers if needed.

No screener can open my bags without my permission, because they do not have the authority to break open locks of carry on luggage at the checkpoint.

If I have to open any of my carry on items, I always position myself so I can clearly see the screener’s hands. Fortunately so far I have not had any problems with screeners trying to hide their actions from me or ordering me to stand back, but the minute they do, I will demand they stop and call for a supervisor and an LEO.

I do not trust TSA screeners at all, there are just too many thieves in their ranks and I have the right to keep my possessions in sight at all times, including the contents of my carry on’s.

I have no compulsions at all to tell any supervisor to their face that I am concerned about theft from my luggage and that I consider all screeners to be potential thieves, not accusing them directly of being thieves, but I am just acting in the abundance of caution.

Mr. Elliott

After removing my laptop I put my small "manpurse" (which contains my wallet and valuables) inside my rollerbag, then I always snap a small lock on the zippers.

The only thing I have to watch is my laptop - which I place in the middle between my bag and shoe bin. If they pick up my back and attempt to open in the main portion is locked, and the key is tucked in the side pocket with some powerbars.

There's no way for them to steal my wallet, cell phone, camera - etc as it's all sealed up. This takes me a couple seconds to switch around, but I've done it enough it's second nature and easy to swap and move while queueing down the line.

When I reported felony larceny from my carry-on bag at the checkpoint in LGA the PANYNJ responding PO took great pride in reviewing the tapes, indicting a TSO in the crime.

Wasn't at all an inconvenience for the officer.

Hopefully the screener was arrested and handcuffed in plain view of all the other screeners at the checkpoint.

Happiness is seeing a TSO being led away in handcuffs, I might even start clapping if I saw it happen.

Mr. Elliott

But they do have cameras...but whether they are working, have recording media properly installed and/or the recording hasn't been damaged or destroyed is another story entirely ;)