TSA Stealing again, this time from a kid
 

"the mother of the Brooklyn student, Chris Dunn, called the alleged theft of his cash -- a gift from his grandma -- "disgusting and a violation of my son's trust."

"Just hours later, another TSA screener at JFK was caught on surveillance video swiping a senior citizen's cellphone. The worker, Roy Richburg, 25, of Queens, was arrested and fired."



http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/q...tjYwrMzs3H7lNN

Wow...fired without retraining. I'm shocked, and glad I was sitting down to read this one.

So, this TSA was filmed spending 6 minutes on a teen's gym bag, the kid is out his money, but she's not arrested or fired?
I feel so much safer.

Do they just forget they are being taped? The port authority police must hate the amount of time they have to spend looking at TSA tapes

Really, you spend six minutes going through a bag, somebody is gonna think you were stealing something.

Waiting for bob to put the spin on the edited youtube video release later today.

The money seems to still be up in the air, the phone, that was a slam dunk.

Spokesholess Lisa beat him to the punch. I feel much better now.

Cases such as this is why demanding to remain in view of your carry on items is a must. If a TSA employee does not accommodate such a request then I think it is reasonable to suspect a TSA thief at work.

I'm sure there are far more honest TSA screeners than dishonest but they all wear they same uniform so all screeners must be suspected of being dishonest.

Just as they suspect all of us as being terrorists.

I don't understand. Are you not allowed to lock your bag before you send it through the xray machine?? I am aware that locks are routinely opened/broken off/etc. on checked bags, but is there any rule against locking your carry on bag?

They don't all like it. I started doing it because I always get the grope and there are TSOs who will actively obstruct your view of your bags. I have also had a TSO yank my bag off the belt, turn his back to me and start to dig around in my bag when he hadn't even identfied the bag's owner yet.

Had to opt-out at LAX recently, and apparently that day/shift/crew did full unpack/swab/test of all bags. The fellow doing my bag was very aggressive - both palms up, loud voice, "stand back, stand back, stand back!" (I was standing where he told me to stand. He brought my belongings over to a table, put them down, I still hadn't moved, then he's telling me to stand back).

Then he realized the bag was locked. :p

I said "do you want me to unlock it?" Well, he didn't, but I had to 'stand back'. Conversation in radio. Another TSO. More admonitions to "stand back". They have a whispered conversation.

OK, I could unlock my bag but not touch anything else. And "stand back".

Swabbed everything. Including the lock. Twice.

I've also used ziplocs. They generally have to be cut off. Of course, there's rarely a shortage of surrendered sharp blades at the checkpoint, so that shouldn't be a problem if I do get a search.

At this companion article http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/q...MGg4vNPhjGZQrJ

the title says it all: "TSA stands for 'Thieves Steal at Airports'"

Wow! Unbelievable!!! He got termination from the job. TSA will get disciplinary action against him.

No one who caught the personal items and no one touching with her cell phone.

Not sure why the TSO spent six minutes in the bag, but I didn't see anything indicating that they actually had proof that the TSO stole the money. If it's in the article and I just missed it, it would be much appreciated if someone could point me to it.

Thanks,
Mike

Its a situation ripe for this kind of thing. No one gets the contents of their carryon certified before TSA gets their hands on it. Unless someone actually sees the theft, it seems like it is hard to prove. Almost makes me want to pack as if I know whatever I put in will be stolen.

But then my rational mind says "why travel in that expectation?" Anyone should be able to see how this chills the desire to fly.

No hard proof.

I wonder if the bag was between the TSO and the pax at all times, and I wonder how close the pax was to the bag.

IIRC, the LTSO that got caught (but not fired) in KOA would take a bag and turn her back to the pax while 'searching' the bag.

(bolding mine) True for cash. However, getting caught with the goods (like a listing on eBay or an Ipad down the front of your pants) is pretty good proof. :p

Agreed. Drives me crazy when the TSOs get upset that I want my luggage in my site at all times. And frankly, it protects them just as much as it does me.

Mike

I still haven't seen an explanation from TSA saying why their great and powerful BDO program seems unable to identify TSA Thieves.

Last time, I changed up the way I handle this situation (which comes up almost every time I fly.) Usually I say "I have to be able to see my things" and then start toward them if they give any pushback or don't indicate they are going to be bringing them into my sight line.

This time I said: "I'm not allowed to let those out of my sight." I didn't get any argument. I'm sure I will sooner or sooner, but really, what would be a good argument for that?

There's no rule against locking your carry on bag. I do it every time I fly and I've not been hassled. Actually, no one has searched the bag since I've started locking it, even if I've opted out. Anyway, it's the only way I can make sure I'm present if they are going to call a bag search, because like Chollie, I've had TSA employees start rooting around without even identifying the bag and allowing the owner to watch. I'll be darned if my trip ends before it starts because someone stole my cash, credit, passport, laptop, etc.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

You're carrying sensitive government information..or attorney/client information ... or medical information protected by HIPPA. Any should work. I wouldn't use the term "classified" because they might ask you to produce a courier letter. Besides, nobody carrying classified is going to admit it in public.

Interesting that Drudge no longer seems to pick up stories of TSA theft and pax abuse. When the pax had to fly covered in his own urine first time, it was big news, second time, only local coverage. Maybe it's because there has been so much abuse and so many thefts that they are considered routine and not news?

Standard counter-argument applies. TSA thieves aren't a threat to the safety of commercial air travel. TSA's mission, which includes the BDO program, is focused on the safety of commercial air travel. Ergo, the BDO program isn't designed to find TSA thieves. QED.

Other than that droning message overhead that says "Do not leave your personal items unattended"?

Remember in the spy movies, where sometimes an agent travelled with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist?

^

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

In some cases, that was not too far from the truth. If you handcarried anything, the stuff felt like it was chained to your wrist because all you wanted to do was get rid of it at the secure facility once you landed.

This must stop accused to stealing the personal items from checkpoints. Leave the personal items alone! He could go to jail for that. That is first-degree misdemeanor felony. He won't be work for TSA anymore for rest his miserable life.

No one ever who being caught the personal items, jewelry, cash, iPads and etc. Leave them alone! TSA behavior that does not changes at all. IF you see TSO who touching the bags at checkpoint. You will being caught. You could be arrested for that. End of story, period! This is zero tolerance policy!

That's because the checkpoints don't have mirrors.

Co-incidently, I've had the same experience. I used to get a bag search about once out of every 4 trips. I started locking my bag around 3 years ago and haven't had a bag search since. My working theory is that a locked bag is less likely to attract a TSA thief than an unlocked one.

I don't think most of these thefts that take place at the checkpoint are done as your bag goes through the x-ray. So I don't think the lock is going to do much.

I think most of the checkpoint thefts take place during the bag search, while you are standing there. They put their back to you and the camera and tell you to "stand back."

I think it is a wise idea to say, "Hey, I'll stand back but can't I see what you are doing? I need to watch my belongings." If another officer is patting you down inform them to wait until one screening process is done before starting another. If they give you difficultly about doing any of this ask to bring over a supervisor. Simply explain you want to watch your bag.

Yes. I understand that a lot of these people will cause issues and be difficult with you over this. But it is still better than doing nothing.

I would be most concerned with the things in your pockets. If you place them in the tray they are more likely to disappear. If they are in you pockets during a patdown they will be handled by the TSA and possibly run through the x-ray by them. I would empty your pockets into you bag and hold cash in hand.

Just how many Spokesholes does the TSA have employed?

Seriously -- anyone have a number?

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 ;)