Hello Everyone

Just saw an interesting item on the TV. This may be happening elsewhere but this just mentions North America.
It seems that when people are putting their valuables in the trays,that go through the airport X Ray machines, other travellers are stealing things from them. They showed passengers actually stealing from the trays as the trays came out of the X Ray machine.
You must be right there when your tray comes out and watch it extremely carefully.
When we go on our Wales and Ireland Tour(09) one of us will go through and wait at the other end before the other one goes through.
Passengers are stealing cell phones, laptops etc. The video actually showed people stealing!!!
They showed one guy having the metal detector passed over him. In the background someone was seen stealing from the guy's tray.

Well thats a new time low!

I saw that report but this is actually nothing new. I heard about this years ago and since then I am always very vigilant at security checkpoints. From the time it goes through the scanner and comes out the other end, I never take my eyes off my stuff. It's really sad.

I was at the airport myself on the weekend and noticed more security people near the scanners, not sure if it was for this reason.

quote:

Originally posted by SoloT:
Well thats a new time low!

Hi SoloT

Yes it is.
When we went on our Grand European Tour(07)we were very careful at the airport. We never let our trays leave our sight.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeannie118:
I saw that report but this is actually nothing new. I heard about this years ago and since then I am always very vigilant at security checkpoints. From the time it goes through the scanner and comes out the other end, I never take my eyes off my stuff. It's really sad.

Hi Jeannie

It is sad.
Like yourself we are always careful when going through security. I guess that people need to be reminded to be very careful.

I dont know what people are thinking - does it just enter their mind that the airport may be a good place to go and steal? What a way to start or end a holiday

quote:

Originally posted by biotrav:
When we go on our Wales and Ireland Tour(09) one of us will go through and wait at the other end before the other one goes through.

Hi bio ~ Nice to see you popping in

I have always gone through before our valuables & waited for them to come through, my husband has often said I am a panic merchant, now I can tell him it is something that needs to be done.

Thanks for the heads up!

quote:

Originally posted by Missie:
I was at the airport myself on the weekend and noticed more security people near the scanners, not sure if it was for this reason.

Hi Missie
That could be the reason. They said,in this article,that if security knows immediately about the loss there is a good chance of catching the person.

quote:

Originally posted by SoloT:
I dont know what people are thinking - does it just enter their mind that the airport may be a good place to go and steal? What a way to start or end a holiday

SoloT

I call those people predators. In the video one guy sat down next to the laptop and just picked it up and left.
They showed a guy with a red shirt and cowboy hat. So he really stood out. He took a guys expensive watch. The guy who lost his watch ran after the thief. He stopped the thief and told him that he could either give him back his watch or go to jail. The thief gave him back his watch.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:

quote:

Originally posted by biotrav:
When we go on our Wales and Ireland Tour(09) one of us will go through and wait at the other end before the other one goes through.

Hi bio ~ Nice to see you popping in

I have always gone through before our valuables & waited for them to come through, my husband has often said I am a panic merchant, now I can tell him it is something that needs to be done.

Thanks for the heads up!

Hi Dimpz

Thanks for noticing me. I do appreciate that.
You are certainly not a panic merchant.
I think that we sometimes need a gentle reminder of the potential predators.

Considering Big Brother is watching every move we make from the moment we arrive in the airport carpark until we leave(though I really hope not in the toilets ) then you would have to be pretty stupid/foolhardy to steal anything. Maybe they don't realize this?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: augusta,

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:
Considering Big Brother is watching everything move we make from the moment we arrive in the airport carpark until we leave(though I really hope not in the toilets ) then you would have to be pretty stupid/foolhardy to steal anything. Maybe they don't realize this?

Hi augusta

The guy in the bright red shirt and cowboy hat really wasn't very bright. He stood out like a sore thumb.
Probably more people get away with stealing than those who are caught. They showed one woman just smoothly taking someone's cell phone. It was done so quickly and smoothly.

quote:

Originally posted by biotrav:
Hello Everyone

Just saw an interesting item on the TV. This may be happening elsewhere but this just mentions North America.
It seems that when people are putting their valuables in the trays,that go through the airport X Ray machines, other travellers are stealing things from them. They showed passengers actually stealing from the trays as the trays came out of the X Ray machine.
You must be right there when your tray comes out and watch it extremely carefully.
When we go on our Wales and Ireland Tour(09) one of us will go through and wait at the other end before the other one goes through.
Passengers are stealing cell phones, laptops etc. The video actually showed people stealing!!!
They showed one guy having the metal detector passed over him. In the background someone was seen stealing from the guy's tray.

Biotrav

This has been happening for years, sorry to tell you. When I go with my husband I go through first & waiting for our goods to come through before he lets them go. If I am on my own I make sure I don't wear anything that will trip the sensers, boots are a good example. They have a metal piece holding the heel to the shoe, so rubber/leather soled shoes, no belts etc. This is so I can place my goods on the conveyor belt & I am through to the other side so smoothly to grab my things. I keep my eye on my tray as I go through the scanner gate. I used to have a laptop & projector with me for some business trips & didn't want the hassle of loosing them.

I know how this could be stopped (almost) if they allow only those with boarding pass's through first then their friends relations next. Just the other week i sat & watched my fellow flying companions coming through the scanners while enjoying a coffee.I can see why thieves take this oppurtunity to steal things, no one was on the ball & off with the pixies amazing.

Always surprised by people being surprised about this sort of activity ( I know we are all very trusting) - every traveller should watch the 'old' musical Oliver - "got to pick a pocket or two" before travelling