I am so sorry this happened!! I don't have any advice unfortunately! Is there a reason you had to take it off to go through security?? I have never taken any jewellery off and haven't ever seen anyone being requested to do so, so I am just curious...

Best of luck!!

I thought all metal items had to be removed, if I erred on the side of caution then it is obviously unfortunate given what happened - but that doesn't mean it was OK for my ring to be stolen!

That is really too bad, what a shock. I've never been asked to take off any jewelry at any airport, either, not even at Madrid, not even watches (but I don't wear real big stuff).

If you had insurance, I would hope they'd pay like any claim for something that is "lost" (as you don't even really know if anyone stole it, unfortunately, it could have just been brushed aside in that machine or fallen somewhere). Maybe it was stolen, the probably is you don't really even know that for a fact. I don't know what a denuncia is but there must be a way to report a loss even if not a robbery, so at least you'd have records of it.

Maybe someone else would know how you could get them to review the security camera. good luck

Where did I say it was ok for your ring to be stolen???? It's a horrible thing to have happened to you!!

In future do not remove any jewellery unless asked and then don't leave it loose to attract any attn, put in a pocket of your purse...

I really hope you get the ring back!!!

What a shame! I'm quite paranoid about the location of my belongings when I go through the security check, and I don't think I'd take off a ring.

I am so very sorry this happened, I can only imagine the sense of loss you must be feeling. I know this advice comes too late but like everyone else on this thread I have never had to remove jewellry when clearing security. I was just in Madrid a month ago and as usual I did not take off my rings.

I like Christina's idea for reviewing the security video but otherwise I don't think you have much recourse. I'm sorry and I really hate this for you.

I'm so sorry this happened to you and, if nothing else, take a little comfort in the fact that you have provided a cautionary tale for those who seldom travel. We have always brought a plastic bag into which my husband drops our watches, change, money clip, etc. I never take off my rings or earrings and I've never set anything off.

To be doubly safe, we slip the plastic bag into my purse as it goes on the scanner. No way I'll forget to pick up my purse! One other thing I do, which may seem silly, but I put my engagement ring behind my wedding band so that if anything slips off at any point (washing, etc.) it will be the band and not the diamond ring.

I do hope this turns out well for you. My friend threw her engagement ring in the trash by mistake once and her homeowners insurance reimbursed her.

Good luck.

As far as your insurance is convpcerned, report it stolen, assume the odds are 60-40 that is was stolen and you did report it.

On the very odd chance it was found by an honest person who turned it in, you might get it back. I wouldn't count on that but there's no harm in trying.

I just can't tell you how sorry I feel for you. No matter how, why or who, losing something like an engagemnt ring is awful. The least they could have done was review the security tape. That would have told you something. I also doubt it was caught in the machine, but it is impossible to know. In a crazy way, that makes it even worse. I hope with time, it won't seem so bad.

I'm so sorry. Perhaps start with your insurance company and see what advice they give you. You could also try contacting the airport authority directly. They must have a lost item department.

I leave my good jewelry at home and have a fake ring that I wear for travelling.

In terms of retrieving it, won't happen unless you have serious connections with Spanish officialdom. It's terrible, but it's true.

File for insurance.

"I had put my ring in a tray along with some other stuff."

Why? Did somebody ask you to put it on the tray, why would you do that? Have you done that in the States before?

I'm very sorry, but lesson learned. Never take jewelry as those metals aren't an issue and be very suspicious of anybody who ever asks you to remove rings or earrings.

At this point I would grieve over it, throw a lots of pity parties and move on. You won't get it back as its long gone, call your insurance agency and report it stolen, don't tell them you willingly removed it as they may not cover it. Ask your fiance to provide the receipt so they see how expensive it is and the jewelry store can reproduce it to the T.

On a bright side it wasn't your wedding ring, that would hurt me the most.

A friend of mine got her wedding ring stolen at home by a friend of her daughter and the insurance cover to the last penny.

I can understand why someone who didn't travel a lot might think you had to remove jewelry if you are standing in line and watching people put their watches and belts in those trays. However, in the future, it would be a good idea if you plan to do that to not remove expensive jewelry unless required by the agents, or at least to put it inside something like your purse not just leaving it lying out in public.

I sympathize with you. I have an expensive watch and I am paranoid about having to take it off. I recently realized that I should put it in my purse. It took some time for the light to dawn. It is the first item I look for in the tray. Go for the insurance.

Sorry, Yipper

She just had her ring stolen and she doesn't need any preaching! I'm so sorry Isabella.

I'm sorry you had this loss and hope it is fully insured.

I have never seen anyone take jewelry off going through security and it seems a very odd thing to do - certainly for something as small and valauble a a ring. (This isn;t like takig out a whole pocketful of change or a belt with a very large metal buckle.)

The purpose of the security team/camera is passenger safety - not theft - and I can't imagine that they will review this for your ring (even if it was clear enough to see what happened) - even if it was the Koh i- noor. One of my colleagues had her lap top taken when she was delayed for a moment going into the viewing booth (at DFW) and as soon as she spottted it went to the security guard. The response: file with your insurance company. This is NOT their purview.

When I travel the only valuable jewelty I take is what I will never take off - engagement and wedding rings. Everything else has minimal value - from a Mickey Mouse watch to a couple of pieces of costume jewelry.

"She just had her ring stolen and she doesn't need any preaching!"

I'm not preaching I'm just saying it like it is, I bet some here want to say much more to her than I'm sorry for your loss. Why sugar coating the fact she unaware made a mistake that it cost her to lose her engagement ring?

I'm even giving advice on filing with her insurance as I'm not even sure if they will cover her if she says she threw her valuable ring through the scanner, insurances are difficult to deal with if you haven't been robbed, but you've lost something and trying to get them to replace it.

I lost my wedding band several years ago, irreplaceable because I got in Chile, 18k gold and with a special engraving, It fell of my finger while driving. I couldn't find it after looking back and for on that street for days.
I grieved it and let it go. Today I only wear a simple diamond ring my husband got me three years ago, I didn't have the option to go back to get the exact band nor filing with the insurance.

My friend got her wedding ring stolen from her jewelry box, a ring that she'd had for over 25 years, she hadn't taken it off but just at home.

She already knows she made a mistake, pookymimi. She is asking for help recovering it. Not good advice to tell her to commit insurance fraud, though, imo.

Alas, Isabella, I concur with the others that the security tape will not be made available to you. I think insurance is your only recourse. I am sorry this happened to you.

Isabella knows she made a mistake, one that any novice overseas traveler might make given the myriad, ever-changing, sometimes asinine TSA regulations these days. There's no need to rub salt in her considerable wound, pookymimi. She's hurting, and understandably so.

And I wouldn't commit insurance fraud, either. In all likelihood her insurance will pay for the ring anyway. All she has to do is state the facts, particularly that she made efforts at the airport to get people to help her go look for it, search the security camera records, etc.

Isabella, I think insurance will reimburse you and I'm very sorry this happened to you. In future, leave expensive items behind and never take off jewelry or any accessories when passing through security unless specifically instructed to do so.

Is there a reason your headline is "stolen" but even you admit it could have been lost?

Sadly, it is gone. And it is great you have insurance Afraid you will just have to accept this loss. Sorry

(By the way, I know she has insurance because in other posts in other places she has said that she has it and they are willing to accept her statement as the proof they need)

I'm sorry that this happened to you, Isabella.

As a matter of curiosity, have you been posting this in a number of travel forums? I ask because CarolA seems to have seen your postings elsewhere on the net.

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/85462/stolen-engagement-ring-at-madrid-airport--help.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g187514-i126-k5410999-Stolen_engagement_ring_at_Madrid_Airport_Help-Madrid.html


similar posts on tripadvisor us, ca and uk versions.

Very distraught poster or.....

Is this thing still going on? I'm sorry, but I have serious doubts about this post. Nobody can be that ...

I agree........troll and laughing at the reactions,never to be heard from again!

Why would someone ask people on travel forums for help.

Help with what?

I just saw her identical post on Tripadvisor. Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but my first reaction after something like this would not be to register with travel boards.

I'm with Danon, help with what? If the story is true, then contact your insurance co. If indeed the ring was stolen or lost is long gone so I'm not sure what poting about it on travel boards can do for you. Sorry.

Thanks Debi!

You're probably right, she sounds very distraught. That ring must have meant a lot to her.

That sucks! The airports say to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. That is hard to do when one is required to put your things in the tray, stand and wait your turn to go thru xray and then gather belongings. By that time, if there is any rescreening your valuables can be stolen in an instant under the "chaos" of the airport.

I´m neither a troll or an idiot. Isn´t hindsight a beautiful thing?

Thanks those who have given helpful comments and I appreciate the sympathy. I haven´t been in this situation before and it is compounded by being in a strange country. I just wanted to know if anyone had any idea of who I could talk to, under whose umbrella this sort of thing might fall. I really want to TRY to get that footage reviewed. I´ve posted in two other forums to increase my chances of getting some good advice.

I have been calling lost property everyday and they do not have my ring, which is why I assume it has most likely been stolen.

My insurance company is being great but I want the ring itself back.

I´m going to try and talk to the police today when I return to Spain.

Which is why I'm such a fan of the scottevest. It has 22 pockets (most of them with zippers) and one could fit an iPad in one of the pockets. I put everything in one pocket or another, take the vest off, put it in a bin and retrieve it at the other end. None of this loose stuff exposed for all to see.

I just bought two of their chloe jackets (17/19 pockets) as gifts for my family on their trip and one has already written back to say she loves the jacket for its warmth and practicality.

I must say I have learned something here. I am usually asked to take my watch off, which is rather expensive and was a gift. I usually just put it in the tray with my bag and shoes!!! Going forward I will make sure I put it at the very bottom of my bag.
So sorry this has happened to you.

I have only once been asked to remove jewellery and that was a CDG. I must say that I just put the items in the tray. In future I will remember to take a small ziplock bag just in case.
I hope you get your ring back.

Have made my denuncia with the police, they say they will review security footage, so hopefully something will come of this.

"I just saw her identical post on Tripadvisor. Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but my first reaction after something like this would not be to register with travel boards. "

Don't spend much time on the TripAdvisor Air Travel forum do you?

Almost daily there's the "one post wonder" post regarding "never fly XYZ" or "the airline doesn't love" me...

Nothing surprises me when it comes to "spamming with horor"

That said Isablella, the police in the US would spend about as long as it took to take your report on this.. that's it they are DONE and unless the Spanish police have developed a new sense of urgency... that's what they will spend on this. Don't get your hopes up. File your claim and move on... sitting around waiting for the Spanish police will just frustrate you. Heck we lost $10K in travelers checks at Heathrow (we think) and the police took our report... that was it

I have a feeling that if one is not specifically asked to take off a watch, ring ..etc
it really does NOT become a responsibility of the security .
It is more or less as if the ring was left in a bathroom at the airport and it was stolen.
Good luck with a police, in any country, spending time looking for it.

Since you will be in Spain's capital I urge you to contact your country's embassy there to seek assistance as well -- at least a request that someone officially request a copy of the airport tapes. In the case of the U.S. there is a large embassy staff with a good number of poeple assigned to work with problems that arise for American citizens traveling abroad. Certainly worth a try.

I guess the police aren't going to review the tapes (how LONG would that really take?) because they aren't in the business of catching thieves?

Certainly makes one wonder about the modern world. It was said that during the height of the Mongol Empire, an old woman could cross the breadth of that Empire from Europe to China with a gold plate on her head and no one would rob her. So much for modern cameras and x-ray machines.

Sorry to hear that; the OP must feel terrible.

Related question:


How does one minimize the chance of having a laptop or iPad taken during the screening process? I often have to leave it on the conveyor belt while I am being screened in one of those booths. I often have to wait in the booth until a female screener arrives. So theoretically anyone could snatch my laptop or iPad (or anything else!) while these are out of my sight. What to do to insure that this does not happen? I've always been anxious about these security procedures because of this, especially when traveling alone when there is no one to keep an eye on things.

there was a case on the news about someone's watch being stolen from the tray at one of the US airports.
I think they even had a security video of the man who did it
....did anyone bother looking for him?
I doubt it.

I see you may have already gotten in touch with everyone but her's what I wrote.

I suggest you write your story in simple English stating the terminal and if yu can remember the aisle you went through, the time, what you were wearing, etc. to help them LOOK if they CAN at that video.

Here are two email addresses, although I am not sure they are where you need to write, but perhaps you can request them to forward it to the appropriate department.

servicios-aeroportuarios@aena.es

www.seguridadaerea.es

ekscrunchy, when I am traveling alone I ask the agent to bring my bucket to me in the booth and they always have.
This is a real problem with the side screening rooms.

ekscrunchy: I really don't know what would be a good way with the iPads, as they have to be in a separate bin.

I travel with a cheapie netbook that cost about $200-$300, and not with a thousand-dollar iPad. Never had that netbook go missing, although it is heavier.

My family tends to travel with droids/iPhones which they leave inside the scottevest pockets.

lincasanova: great info!

I didn't have to put my IPad in a separate bin. TSA regulations say you can leave your IPad in your carryon. But you do still have to take your computer out.

If you go for the search rather than the scan - your belongings are out of your view for a longer period of time. I always gofor the scan - and don't put my belongings into the tunnel until it is my turn to go into the booth. I know a lot of people put their things in right away and then ahve to stand and wait their turn - IMHO not a great idea. (And I almost always have to travel with a computer - since most trips are work-related. Luckily it's a cheap PC the company supplies - and I make sure everything is backed up weekly.

Good idea to ask to take your bucket with you to the booth. Most of the time I'm required to have the search, but never thought to take the stuff with me. I also did not know you could keep the iPad in the luggage, so thanks also for that info!

It makes me nervous to have my stuff out of sight for so long! Lots of stories about things getting stolen in US airports as well. Surely this could happen at any airport. And that's not to mention items that people forget when they are flustered.

My iPad stays in my bag. I have not been asked to take it out. My laptop goes through, but honestly it is out of sight for just seconds (I don't push my stuff through until I can go through)

Most "thefts" of laptops are really "I walked off and left mine". Listen to the paging at a lot of smaller airports and you will hear over and over "would the passenger leaving a laptop, watch, camera, etc...at checkpoint x please return to claim your item". Of course, instead of admitting. "I was an idiot and walked off without my laptop" the story becomes "the TSA stole it".

yes, IPad stays in bag.
If you are taken off to the side, Carol, it is not a few seconds, it is however long it takes for them to come search you.This can be ten minutes easily.

jubilada, good idea to ask them to bring your bucket to you.

In my case it was not jewelry but my passport, which I left in the bucket. It was underneath my purse. I would never do that but the person who checked the passports put it in the bucket and insisted that I leave it there and put my purse on top of it. After the screening, I quickly took my purse and carryon and rushed to catch my connecting flight. At the new gate, I realized that I did not have my passport and went back. Luckily, I found it but I was so upset. Of course, I could be more careful but why put a passport in the bucket?

Robert2533 on May 12, 12 at 9:52pm

Is this thing still going on? I'm sorry, but I have serious doubts about this post. Nobody can be that ...
-----
Agreed, After I read what someone posted on Tripadvisor without being bullied as me, pretty much the same questions in my first posting. I believe this post isn't for real. I never advised anybody to commit insurance fraud, another hit to me from the same ones as usual, you know who you are.

We flew from Madrid airport to Lisbon in 2010 and nobody took their jewelry to pass security then.

I talked to my husband about this same issue last night and he is skeptical on this case, the same on how insurance would treat a case when you remove your jewelry without being asked, this case is more a loss than a robbery as it could've fallen inside the machine or between trays, etc.

I don't know why when you post something that isn't the norm you are accused of being insensitive, etc. I have a general idea of who doesn't like me in this board as I generally being bullied by the same ones. For me who comes from bigger losses a ring is just a ring, material things are replaceable, I'm not rubbing salt.

I.E. Once I got my passport, car registration, money, camera, stolen in Argentina and I was stuck for 2 weeks with no money waiting for my Dad to submit my new car papers so I could drive back home. The police did nothing for me.

In Brazil, my husband and I were arrested for crossing from Paraguay without Visa on a IC bus, etc.

As an Hispanic, I would've approached this in a completely different way then as I did when my husband was arrested for being American in Brazil.

So to join the board, I'm very sorry for your loss Isabella_d and please accept my apologies for sounding insensitive, but I can't apologize for being honest.

I'm baffled that anyone would think I made this up. I guess it's because you are all experienced travellers, but I'm not. I'm 23 and the ring was the most valuable thing I owned, both sentimentally and monetarily. I'm not an experienced traveler, I'm native to a small country that isn't near anything and this is my first time overseas on my own.

I appreciate that some of you have also had terrible things happen to you, I'm not special, and I accept there is a strong chance the ring is gone for good. I won't give up til I've done all I can though. I felt shocked and powerless after what happened and so I reached out to you guys for ideas.

If I need to continually justify myself then so be it, if that's what it takes to get some good advice. It is interesting hearing other people's stories too.

FYI my insurance co treats a loss/robbery of my ring as the same, and I would never attempt insurance fraud! I'm a law student and assume insurance investigators could easily find these posts if they tried, I'm not about to put 000s of dollars of education down the drain.

pooky, as the person who raised the issue of your suggestion of insurance fraud, which is what lying about the circumstances of your loss clearly is, I am baffled by the idea that I have "hit" you or "bullied " you now or before. It is completely beyond my comprehension. I felt you were giving bad advice and I said so. i also felt you were kicking the OP when she was down, and I said that too, honestly. Gee willikers !

Isabella, I am glad that you will be reimbursed for your loss. I hope you will continue to travel and learn from this difficult experience.

Reporting this to insurance is NOT fraud. Losing something when away from home - esp abroad - is usually covered by home insurance problems. Bit her company will decide what is covered by her policy. As long as she has a police report they will probably cover.

no,of course not, but it is fraudulent to prevaricate about what happened, which is the suggestion I was referring to.

Isabella,

Most of us believe you and feel sympathetic. I may be a more experienced traveler at this point compared to you but I have made so many mistakes, especially, in the beginning and even now. I hope you recover your ring or get enough from the insurance to buy a similar ring. Good luck to you.

In the USA you should NOT be out of sight of your stuff for "up to 10 minutes".

At every airport they shove you into the holding chute....look left or right ...there is your stuff. If they want you to leave that area they should ask what stuff is yours and pick it up and move it with you. If they don't ask them too

And if it is really 10 minutes ask for a supervisor and complain. I do. I take very little abuse from the Thiusands Standing Around play acting at security.

Isabella,

I totally believe you, and a recent experience my DD had with TSA at JFK confirms that anything is possible with security people at airports these days. Most of them are really, really nice, though they are terribly busy. However, some are bored. Some are not too smart. Some are just plain stupid and some are mean. Some enjoy the only place they have any power over anybody else.

I hope the rest of your trip offers some joy for you.

The ten minutes happened when I was awaiting a female agent to search me due to the alarm going off due to my artificial hip. It is nothing to demand a supervisor about. One sits and waits until there is a female agent available, usually quick, but not always. During that time there is no provision for one's belongings if traveling alone. hence my suggestion to bring the bucket into the room also.

So you indicated you can be away from your stuff for "up to 10 minutes" and now you brought it with you? I am confused apparently.

And artificial hip or not they should not make you wait that long. My friend has one too, we have never waited that long and if we did I would complain. Heck her family has two diabetic pumps, an hip and a pacemaker. We can that entire medical group through in less then 10 minutes.


It is their job to be prepared for hand pats of BOTH sexes in a timely manner

Considering how many agents just stand around play acting they should have plenty of staff.

Again I ask, how long can this continue?

Jewelry is usually only covered on your homeowner's insurance for about $500 unless you've added a rider (requires appraisal of the jewelry).

Robert,

You ask how long this can continue. I say, this can continue as long as there are posters who feel they have something to say. You act as if someone is forcing you to read what we write. I learned a few things from Isabella's and others' experiences.

If you find nothing interesting, don't click on the link. It's that simple.

I'm sorry that you lost or had your ring stolen. I know I would very upset too. I have never had to remove my jewelry but I see some people are saying you don't have to remove your Ipad from your bag when going through security. That is not true. I flew last month internationally and when leaving the US, I had to remove it. They saw it when it went through the machine and they pulled me to the side, removed it and away my bag and Ipad by itself went through again. I was not allowed to go back and watch it. Same thing happened to the people behind me.

Carol, yes you are confused. The time I was away from my stuff for ten minutes my partner had it, so it was ok. I indicated that when I am alone I ask to bring it in or have it brought in.

Whether it should or or should not take ten minutes is not the issue, it takes how long it takes, and complaining about such things does not always fix them. My way of dealing with delays at security is to go early enough so I don't feel upset if I must wait..
I am not sure why you sound so mad at me!

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!! My smartphone was stolen May 25, 2012 in Terminal 1 around 8:30am while going through security and the police could not care less. They actually don't even listen, they just hang up on me.

I noticed shortly after it happened and even asked if they could review the tapes quickly before my flight left me, thinking I could explain to whoever took it that it was useless to them since it is not a global phone. It is a $500-$600 phone monetary value, but priceless for all the pictures (from my trip and from the week before including my niece's dance recital), music, apps, documents, etc. stored on it. I am not really sure why they would not just get to the bottom of it right away since it is no value to anyone else? So now they are having to deal with me calling them daily requesting to make a report, which I am hung up on constantly but hoping that maybe the phone and storage has not been discarded yet and they can review the security camera to see who has it.

There is definitley something going, I wonder who else has had problems. What a nasty thing to experience! I do feel very sorry for you Isabella, the item stolen from you has far more monetary and sentimental value. Please contact me to share any tips.

I have been calling the main airport line 902404704 and two police lines 913010717 and 913010900 during all of my spare time trying to get some help.

I am from the United States and there is no way anyone would be treated here the way I have been treated by the Police in Spain. We actually have police in the United States that protect people, solve issues and will take a report when appropriate.

I travel very often and have never felt so helpless and unsafe. It takes quite a bit to upset me, but this has made me furious with Spain Police laziness and incompetance.

sorry this happened Angela.
Was your phone taken out of your bag at security?

Angela, that's really awful. I've emailed a zillion people (security, clientes madrid, objetos perdidos) and have had few replies, those who have replied have confessed ignorance and referred me to each other. I was hoping to get a 'short cut' to viewing the footage.

I've made a police report (denuncia) at the airport, I called 913010900 (the Airport Comisaria line) a week ago and they told me to call back in 2 weeks if I've heard nothing from them. I guess they haven't got to my file yet. Have you made a denuncia Angela?

They are, legally, meant to investigate the denuncias, which would include viewing the security camera footage. It sure is infuriating, but all I can do is pray that it happens, and soon

I hope we both get our precious possessions back.

good luck, Isabella, it sounds like you have had a little bit of progress, anyway. There are some airports with more theft problems than others, that just happens, unfortunately, so it's not impossible they have a problem at Madrid. Once in a while you read article in the newspaper (in the US), but how they've busted up a theft ring among airport personnel (baggage handlers at some airline or whatever).

People get ignored by the police all the time where I live in the US when making minor theft reports becuase the police have more important thigns to do and often there really is little they can do. I'm sure that happens everywhere, but especially in a city of millions when talking about some theft of a smartphone at an airport (are you serious, that isn't any big crime they can focus on). I don't understand why you think a $500 phone would not be of value to anyone, people steal expensive smartphones all the time where I live. And it may be a surprise to you that some people may be able to sell or traffic in stolen goods for $500 spartphones even if they are not globally useful.

Three weeks after making my denuncia, the police have called to say they've begun looking at camera footage. Fingers crossed!