The perils of checking luggage
Sep 12, 2004 | 10:24 am
#1
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The perils of checking luggage
New York Times Article, printed by SouthFlorida.com
"Since June, more than 20 TSA baggage screeners at three major airports have been charged with stealing from checked bags. Screeners routinely open and inspect a percentage of checked bags each day, looking for explosives.
What's being done? Not a lot, it seems. Few airports have adequate theft-prevention surveillance systems in place. In fact, some airports have recently eliminated video surveillance systems in baggage-handling areas because of costs."
Costs.. Yes, all that money being squandered on passenger harassment equates to no screener oversight. Lovely.
"Since June, more than 20 TSA baggage screeners at three major airports have been charged with stealing from checked bags. Screeners routinely open and inspect a percentage of checked bags each day, looking for explosives.
What's being done? Not a lot, it seems. Few airports have adequate theft-prevention surveillance systems in place. In fact, some airports have recently eliminated video surveillance systems in baggage-handling areas because of costs."
Costs.. Yes, all that money being squandered on passenger harassment equates to no screener oversight. Lovely.
Sep 12, 2004 | 11:24 am
#2
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Originally Posted by Spiff
New York Times Article, printed by SouthFlorida.com
"Since June, more than 20 TSA baggage screeners at three major airports have been charged with stealing from checked bags. Screeners routinely open and inspect a percentage of checked bags each day, looking for explosives.
What's being done? Not a lot, it seems. Few airports have adequate theft-prevention surveillance systems in place. In fact, some airports have recently eliminated video surveillance systems in baggage-handling areas because of costs."
Costs.. Yes, all that money being squandered on passenger harassment equates to no screener oversight. Lovely.
"Since June, more than 20 TSA baggage screeners at three major airports have been charged with stealing from checked bags. Screeners routinely open and inspect a percentage of checked bags each day, looking for explosives.
What's being done? Not a lot, it seems. Few airports have adequate theft-prevention surveillance systems in place. In fact, some airports have recently eliminated video surveillance systems in baggage-handling areas because of costs."
Costs.. Yes, all that money being squandered on passenger harassment equates to no screener oversight. Lovely.
Sep 12, 2004 | 11:35 am
#4
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Originally Posted by robodeer
20 out of roughly 400 airports. do the same stats exist for pre-TSA days?
What I do know is this:
"You can't professionalize until you federalize." - Comrade Tom Daschle. This is hardly professional behavior.
These are the people who have been caught so far. There are lots of other claims that are finally being paid by the TSA, but there is nothing being done to prevent further theft. Obviously the threat of being caught and "vigorously prosecuted" isn't enough.
Sep 12, 2004 | 11:46 am
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Originally Posted by Spiff
"You can't professionalize until you federalize." - Comrade Tom Daschle.
I'd stipulate that theft numbers may have even been higher pre TSA; but then there was one organization to hold accountable -- the airline.
TSA screeners are people too and out of a 40,000 plus workforce, to catch 20 crooks, that number is pretty low. But for a uniformed federal agent to steal from a passengers unlocked checked baggage is, I think, worse than an airline employee stealing. It is in addition to theft a violation of the public trust.
Sep 12, 2004 | 12:02 pm
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Originally Posted by AArlington
out of a 40,000 plus workforce, to catch 20 crooks, that number is pretty low.
The number of claims finally being paid points rather strongly to a much higher rate of theft.
Sep 12, 2004 | 12:40 pm
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But as TSAMGR so smugly points out at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352068
it happens everywhere so, by implication, it's not so unusual that it should happen here.
it happens everywhere so, by implication, it's not so unusual that it should happen here.
Sep 12, 2004 | 1:06 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by AArlington
That has a pretty catchy jingle to it.
I'd stipulate that theft numbers may have even been higher pre TSA; but then there was one organization to hold accountable -- the airline.
TSA screeners are people too and out of a 40,000 plus workforce, to catch 20 crooks, that number is pretty low. But for a uniformed federal agent to steal from a passengers unlocked checked baggage is, I think, worse than an airline employee stealing. It is in addition to theft a violation of the public trust.
I'd stipulate that theft numbers may have even been higher pre TSA; but then there was one organization to hold accountable -- the airline.
TSA screeners are people too and out of a 40,000 plus workforce, to catch 20 crooks, that number is pretty low. But for a uniformed federal agent to steal from a passengers unlocked checked baggage is, I think, worse than an airline employee stealing. It is in addition to theft a violation of the public trust.
either way, those caught stealing should be punished to the fullest. there shouldn't be any room for rationale for such actions, but conversely-it shouldn't be a label on all 40,000+ employees.
Sep 12, 2004 | 1:21 pm
#9
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This thread is a good example of why I ...
Originally Posted by robodeer
checked luggage passes through many hands on its way to its final destination. security, airline personnel, baggage crews etc. in some instances where they use that tape to seal the bag is easy enough to see where the trail of responsibility ends-but others its a bit tougher.
It's much easier to either carry it on or ship it back to myself via common carrier (FedEx, UPS) giving me the dual value of insurance and less to carry.
Sep 12, 2004 | 1:27 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by robodeer
it shouldn't be a label on all 40,000+ employees.
Sep 12, 2004 | 3:48 pm
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Originally Posted by Spiff
True, but there is ample evidence of a problem. The TSA should be either forced to address these problems by inspecting checked baggage only in the presense of the passenger, or it should be disbanded for refusing to address these problems.
Sep 12, 2004 | 4:37 pm
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Originally Posted by law dawg
True. We should continue with this line of thought. We should force Big Business to address its problems with massive, billion dollar theft or disband it for refusing to addess these problems.
Sep 12, 2004 | 4:57 pm
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Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
There's a difference between business and government. You choose to do business with a business. A government chooses to do business with you.
Of course you could always choose not to do business with a country by leaving, should you wish.
Sep 12, 2004 | 5:14 pm
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Originally Posted by law dawg
We should continue with this line of thought. We should force Big Business to address its problems with massive, billion dollar theft or disband it for refusing to addess these problems.
Sep 12, 2004 | 6:06 pm
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Originally Posted by monitor
But as TSAMGR so smugly points out at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352068
it happens everywhere so, by implication, it's not so unusual that it should happen here.
it happens everywhere so, by implication, it's not so unusual that it should happen here.
WHAT TSAMGR POSTED WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEFTS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. YOU WRONGLY MADE AN ...UMPTION OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE AND TRIED TO INJECT YOUR OWN STUPID THOUGHTS INTO THE THREAD AS YOU ARE TRYING HERE.