Firearms Stolen from Checked Luggage
 

Quote:

---

DIA Insider Arrested, Accused Of Looting Checked Luggage

---

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/09/2...baggage-theft/


How many times, how many airports, before action is taken to secure checked luggage? And how does a baggage handler know which bags are worth hitting? Perhaps a little birdy with x-ray vision?

Or as suspected by one of the DIA theft victims, per the linked news item:
In addition, AFAIK, firearms in checked luggage must be transported in locked hard-sided containers; those are pretty distinctive.

Maybe the problem is that TSA is cutting the locks off the gun cases thus making it easier to baggage handlers to steal guns:

Airports with high theft rates such as LGA have implemented random checks of bag tags, requiring the individual picking up a bag to show his bag receipt. There are FT threads with rants from people asking what authority there is to require this, asserting that their life is ruined and so on.

On the preventive side, it really doesn't take that much to figure out who has put worthwhile stuff in their bag. Expensive luggage, locks, bag ties, fancy tags, and the like all up the prospect that someone puts anything other than their dirty clothes in a bag. For the same reason that you don't leave cash sticking out of your pocket, you don't put a sticker on your luggage saying "steal me - I put an expensive laptop in this case."

Total non-sequitur - the issue at hand is pilferage of bag contents in transit by those entrusted with the bags, not theft of whole bags at the carousel. That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish, and frankly it doesn't seem like much of a problem since 90% of the time the rightful owner of a bag is standing right there at the belt to pick it up, making theft highly unlikely.

True, it is prudent to not advertise when your checked bags contain valuables. In point of fact, since bag pilferage is so easy and rampant, it is more prudent to follow the advice of just about anyone who flies more than once in a blue moon and never pack anything of value in your checked bags, ever, under any circumstances.

In the case of firearms, however, these are required by law to be securely packed in checked bags and declared to the carrier at check-in. I don't know whether a bag containing a firearms is required to be labeled as such, but given that it is required to be a secure, lockable, hard-sided case like those in the tweet that petaluma1 quoted, I think it's pretty safe to say that even if a gun case isn't labeled "guns inside", the secure nature of the case itself is a solid indicator that valuable items (firearms, electronics, or other) are inside.

I don't expect to see the end (or even a dramatic reduction to irrelevancy) of luggage pilferage until some time in the future when completely automated baggage handling from drop-off to pick-up becomes the norm. Such systems would be, I imagine, very expensive to implement, and very difficult given the infinite sizes and shapes of luggage and other checked items, but I'm sure it's coming, probably in my lifetime. If Amazon and McDonalds can implement automated order filling in their warehouses, the aviation industry can eventually implement automated baggage loading and unloading. And at that point, the only thieves we will have to worry about will be those among the screeners.

Bolding in above comment mine.

In regards to the bolded statement I think there may be a misunderstanding. Yes, the weapon must be in a hard sided, locked case. That case can then be placed in a regular checked bag as demonstrated in the first linked video. One thing in the first video that I question is the requirement for 2 locks on the gun case. I don't think this is a correct statement.

TSA tips for legally traveling with a firearm or other restricted items - YouTube

My understanding is that there should be nothing on the outer bag that would suggest a weapon is being transported. However, a long gun would likely be in a locked carry case of its on and not placed inside other luggage due to size. I have seen such at baggage claims from time to time.

Another clip, this one by TSA's Nico Mendez, also demonstrates placing the weapon in a small lockable case.

TSA demonstrates how to properly fly with guns - YouTube

The original article suggests that the bags being targeted had Priority tags on them. This claim was made by one of the theft victims. That might be true, but no evidence was presented supporting that statement,by that passenger or law enforcement.

If the firearms missing are packed as demonstrated in video #1 then was it only the Priority tag and a lucky hit that allowed the thief to find a weapon?

Or three weapons as reported?

From the article in Post #1:

Based on this statement the thief was able to target at least 3 bags with firearms inside. I don't see how a Priority tag facilitates that, nor do we know if these bags had such tags. So, is it a matter of markings on bags or just luck on finding the bags that contain a firearm? Or could it be with assistance from other insiders who may have reason to know what is in a bag?

I have little doubt that something was flagging the "hot" bags so the thief(s) could focus their efforts on the bags with the most rewards. And as reported it wasn't just bags with weapons but other bags as well. What we don't know is if, and if so, how this was being done.

The bottom line, at least to me, is that checked luggage is not secure. Partly due to TSA policy of requiring unlocked, or poorly locked, checked bags, TSA's habit of cutting off locks, even when the locks are TSA approved type locks, and the lack of any Chain of Custody after a checked bag is screened by TSA.

Am I accusing TSA of being a party to the thefts at DIA? No! But, TSA certainly plays a role in checked baggage thefts and at a minimum sets the stage for these types of thefts to occur.

Even before there was a TSA, this kind of stuff was going on at airports.

Instead of wasting time checking passenger ID and boarding passes, the TSA could better spend its time doing things like monitoring for baggage theft.

Agree. Even more important to ensure bags are not tampered with given that airport workers are rarely screened when entering the sterile areas of airports. Why a bomb hasn't been introduced through this security hole is amazing.

I use a hard shell suitcase for my guns..it doesn't look at all like a gun case..... BUT..some flights Ive done within the USA involved the tagging of the bag with an extra, and easily identifiable tag. No.. it didn't say "Firearms"..but I suspect that IS one of its main uses......thus a definite "Steal ME" message.....

I cross my fingers and have Insurance..... 49 trips here to the US so far.....and nothing stolen.

Yes and no.

Guns must be in locked hard-side containers but those don't need to be distinctive--the rule doesn't say the suitcase must be a locked hard-side. You can lock the gun in a suitable case and then put it in an ordinary suitcase. If I were flying with a gun that's certainly how I would do it as the non-TSA locks would be a giveaway to any thief as to what the contents are.

Not another luggage theft again! It must have to stop stealing the bags. What a crazy world! They should never touch the bags. As long if you have a gun in your checked bags. So please go directly to TSA property room to search the bags. They will search your bags and you must keep eye on it. Make sure if he doesn't steal the those stuff out of bags. If you see suspicious and you notify the police right way.

Moderator's Action
 

Posts discussing a tweet complaining about American Airlines' policy of transporting ammunition have nothing to do with the reported thefts at DIA and were moved into a new thread:
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

The article doesn't explain when the bags are being targeted. We don't know if the thefts occur during the loading or unloading evolution, nor how a bag is targeted if that is indeed what is happening.

The obvious solution is to improve chain of custody, either through video surveillance, limited access while waiting to be loaded, or other means. None will be inexpensive or painlesss to the airlines and passengers.

All bags containing guns have "Return To BSA" tags on them by AA policy. This makes them ripe for the stealing by baggage handlers and others.

Any idea what "BSA" stands for in this usage?

Regardless, any kind of identifying flag seems beyond stupid.