Theft by security worker at Logan
 

Well, I'm in the WorldClub in DTW enjoying a stiff drink.

Went to Logan this morning and had only carryons. Traveling with Mrs. WeeMileHoar on reward tickets.

Go through the security at the gate 1 area, and I put my usual things through -- laptop, briefcase, carryon. Just as I'm about to go through the x-ray machine, the security guy asks me if I have anything in my pockets.

I had forgotten to put my wallet in my briefcase, as usual. I put it in a small container for the ride through the machine.

As I come out of the scanner, I'm pulled in one direction by a wander and my bags go in another direction. My wife collects the things that come through and they take her to a table to check the laptop, etc.

I'm wanded.

We go through and stop to put my laptop away. That's when I notice I'm missing my wallet.

Check all the bags. Nothing.

Talk to NW representative who is watching -- they check all the bins, the machine, etc. Then an MP decides to call for a State Trooper. Seems that there are cameras galore hidden in light fixtures in the area.

State trooper arrives and they start watching the tapes. After watching and focusing on certain people around the machine, they finally notice a security worker pocketing my wallet.

Within a minute, my wallet is returned and they take down my phone number and free us.

I'm still a bit shaken, to be honest. But the nicest thing happened on our BOS-DTW flight. We're chatting up the FAs, and the story comes out. Free drinks for us a bit later, and toward the end of the flight, a FA brings us a bottle of wine. Awesome people aboard that flight.

I've learned my lesson. NEVER, NEVER, put any valuables through the machine unless they are inside another bag. From now on, the wallet rides in the briefcase like it usually does.

I realize that this isn't a miles story, but I hope this will make people even more wary when going through the screeners. When you're being pulled in three different directions, make sure you have all your belongings first.

WMH

I should hope the State Trooper took further action ...

BTW, I'm not so sure you're wife would appreciate any name with "hoar" in it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Well, it makes a good story, you didn't lose anything in the end, and learned a valuable lesson ... sounds like truth be told you're better off now then before anyway, so just smile about it and move on!

I had a similar situation in Barcelona where my laptop was stolen but quickly recovered ...

What did you see happen to the security worker who stole your wallet?

I have put my wallet in the little plastic tray numerous times... insisted on holding short of the magnetometer until I see it go through on the belt and disappear from view... and then, on the other side, insisted on remaining in line-of-sight of my wallet until the wand police are done with me. This has made some of the security clones very upset. But the %#@# with them.

Thanks for a sobering story and some good advice.

My standard procedure is to place my cell phone, wallet, and keys into my backpack way before I enter the security lines.

And even more depressing to ask, was this a FEDERAL employee?

- Pat

Ah, the benefits of having a federalized security workforce! Thank you, Tom Daschle!

My wallet stays in my pocket. They can look at it by hand if they want, but my wallet does not separate from my person EVER.

Sometimes, the agents cover for one another.

First, please do not blame Mr. Daschle, it was both parties working to end a safety outcry from the American public.

Second, ALWAYS put everything in your bags when going through security.

Make sure everything is out of your pockets: pens, watches, pins, wallets, cufflinks, lighters, cigarettes, etc.

Take them out again when you are through it. It saves you from some hassle. If you beep, they will CHECK EVERYTHING.

So the only things that might beep are your belt, the metal in your shoes, or the metal plate in your head.

It was Communist Party Chairman Daschle who insisted on making these thieving MORONS federal employees, not the Republicans. So, please do not blame this mess on anyone but him.

The few times I've been selected, I've insisted on positioning myself during the wanding and baggage search process so that I can watch my belongings. This has upset some of the security people...but when I politely and firmly tell them that I am watching my belongings they back down. Security insisted I run my wallet through the X-ray machine at the San Jose airport while they were wanding me. That was a tense moment until I got my wallet back with the contents intact.

I don't think the security people are federal employees. At this point in time, the federal government took over the security contracts that the airlines had so the employees still work for Global, Argenbright, and the other contract companies. Now the federal government has the task of weeding through the employees, keeping the good ones and getting rid of the bad ones, etc. From what I've read it will take most of the rest of this year to move from the contract companies to a federal employee staff. I hope they take their time in selecting good employees and accelerate doing the background checks and weeding out the convicted felons, illegal aliens, and thieves from the existing contracted workforce. Considering that air security is part of our national defense, my preference is for these jobs to be limited to US citizens.

If anyone is to blame for the state of affairs of the security force it is our nation as a whole pushing for cheap tickets. With the airlines in charge they did exactly what we as a nation wanted....cut costs by contracting for minimum wage people as part of the formula to ensure cheap airfares while trying to make a profit.

yes, and i'm absolutely certain that when YOU purchase an airline ticket you say "is that all? really? go ahead bump me up a fare category, i'm certainly not paying enough"....

just another example of how those on expense accounts are separated from reality...

Duxfan, I'm not on an expense account. I pay my own way. What is the purpose of taking potshots at postings? It just sets a negative tone for the discussion. What do you propose? I would be interested in hearing your ideas.

Back to my point in the discussion - paying for upgraded service is a totally different issue than paying for security. Paying $5 or $10 a ticket more for professional security as part of the tax/security structure shouldn't be that big a deal. If I recall, we are paying around $5 per leg for upgraded security as of a couple of months ago. The real issue is how the money is getting spent. I think it should be spent hiring people that can think and have common sense, work well with the public, speak english, have US citizenship, not be convicted felons, and be capable of absorbing professional training as the security procedures are discovered and implemented.

I do not particularly appreciate the gratuitous politics. Nobody seriously expected that federalizing security workers would change human nature, or that the benefits of federalizing security workers would be apparent immediately. Security needs to remain a non-partisan concern. And Flyer Talk needs to remain free of ideological sniping at individual politicians.,

We're paying $10 a ticket more for window-dressing random security and violations of our consititutional rights. Don't kid yourself that it's anything more than that. Nothing has been improved - just a lot of stupid restrictions and knee-jerk responses.

------------------
"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

[This message has been edited by Spiff (edited 04-21-2002).]

Spiff,

I totally agree with you. I just hope the $10 starts getting used to FIX the security issues. Right now you are right, it is a joke. So what would you do to improve security with the millions that are being collected as a result of the $10 assessment?

Here is where I would start-

Send the national guard home or out to guard the people with tarmac access. Quit guarding the x-ray machines. The national guard should probably be back at their regular jobs paying taxes rather than standing around the airport being paid by tax dollars.

Just about anyone with photoshop and a laminator can make great looking IDs. So where is the national initiative to make secure ID's ? We know how to print secure money....why can't we make a secure ID?

Why aren't we profiling passengers and airport employees until all this mess gets sorted out?

Who is figuring out what to do? Putting in security management at each airport doesn't help if someone doesn't take the responsibility of figuring out what to do to have real security. Who is driving the integration of the various IT systems used by each agency?

Banning the little blunt knives on the meal service tray is stupid as is banning nail files and other small knives. The tines on the fork are more dangerous than the knives that are banned. Bend back all but one tine and you have a pointed weapon worse than a blunt dinner knife. Searching out these types of "weapons" is a waste of time. Terrorists can strangle with shoe laces, terrorists can break off the neck of a wine bottle and using the sharp edge, etc. The real deterrent is knowing that suicide missions are possible and empowering the flying public to subdue anyone that threatens the safety of the flight.

I'll feel a lot better when I get screened by US citizens that speak fluent english and at least appear to have some common sense and professional skills. And I'll feel a lot better when I know someone is figuring out what to do and putting in the processes and training to have real security without all the hassle and window dressing we currently have.

[This message has been edited by pderby (edited 04-23-2002).]