I see dozens of posts about items being stolen from the TSA bins, such as money, phones, cameras, etc.

My first question is "Why was it in the bin?"

My advice is dont put those items in the bins!!!

I remove my laptop and place it in the bin. Then I place my wallet, money, phones, keys, and anything else I have into the empty lap top compartment. The case is zipped up, and placed on the belt.

Don't make it easy for them.

I sure hope that didn't happen to this guy.

Your point is well-taken and that is indeed the best practice; however, it's a sad state when the people supposedly protecting us from the 'bad guys' trying to hurt us, are indeed 'bad guys' themselves. That is the point most people are making and using to combat Pistole's comments praising how good of a job the TSA does to 'protect us'.

I know I'm not the only one here that has been doing this long before there was a TSA and long before there were laptops. It's also a good idea to hide your valuables in a carryon long before you get to the checkpoint.

There is no reason to have to remove ones wallet from your jacket or pants pocket. TSA polices enable the thieves.

Do we really need a locked pelican case just to transit TSA screening safely?

What is needed is reasonable screening and what TSA is doing today is not reasonable.

There are some airports (ACY was the most recent for me.) where they make you take everything out of your pockets. Complaining to a supe gets you the same story: our airport is special.

When facing those airports, I make extra sure that everything is always within my vision at all times. If anyone asks, I tell them that it is for their protection, so that if something is missing, I can't claim that they stole it.

Mike

Do you then send them through WBI where such items will surely trigger an alarm or does your airport not have WBI? What happens with people who are subject to random pat downs and are found to be carrying these items on their person?

[QUOTE=Boggie Dog;16483931]There is no reason to have to remove ones wallet from your jacket or pants pocket.[QUOTE]

True, but if you get a pat down, you'll have to remove it. *Then* it's too late to put it away, and it gets thrown out in the open. Better safe than sorry.

I got into the habit of removing & securing my wallet because I used to carry a spare truck key in it. The key, of course, was caught by the metal detector if I forgot to take the wallet out of my pocket.

I work in Canada. A person will be given the option of WBI or a pat down. All items will be asked to be removed from their pockets. The passenger will hold onto all objects til the scan/pat down is done. The objects in the had will be looked at by the screener while the passenger is there watching.

I should have remembered that you're in Canada. Had I done so, I would not have asked the question. Seems like quite a sensible system up there.

Are your pat downs as invasive as the US's rub downs - do they also go until the meet "resistance?"

Next time I fly, I will most likely carry on a backpack and check a suitcase. My plan:

Right after check-in, go to a seat near ticketing, out of view of the TSA checkpoint. I will dump my pockets and cell phones, except for my boarding passes and passport, into the backpack, then secure the backpack with a non-TSA combination padlock. I might even put my shoes in my backpack at ticketing. I don't have a laptop, so that won't be a problem.

No emptying my pockets at the checkpoint. I will place, on the X-ray belt, a locked backpack with all my metal stuff in it, walk through the WTMD, and grab my backpack on the other end. Yes, I know that a determined TSO could break into a backpack quite easily, but they'll go for the lower-hanging fruit, like wallets in bins.

According to the TSA's website, iPads do _not_ have to be removed from bags, and may pass through the X-ray in a bag. If a TSO demands the iPad out, either because they're an idiot, they think it's a laptop/bomb, they want a closer look at it, or they simply want to steal it, what would be the best course of action? Should I bring a printout from the TSA's website?

They can demand that you open the locked bag to let them inspect the ipad (or anything else), but the good part of your plan is that they will have to wait until you have been processed through the rest of your screening. This severely limits their chance to do something sneaky since you can pay attention to them instead of being groped or irradiated.

I think you'd be screwed, because a TSO can call a bag check for any reason they want, and you'll have to open the bag.

Having a printout from the TSA's site is a good thing, but that does not always prevent the "Website is out of date." or "Our airport is different." remarks from screeners. I'm a laptop guy, so no experience with iPads at the checkpoint.