How does baggage theft work?
 

This may seem naive to many, but I don't understand how airline baggage theft continues. Certainly baggage handlers are screened before approaching sensitive areas; how difficult could it be to screen them after a work shift and make sure they're not carrying stolen items?

Good question but I'm not sure your assumption about baggage handlers being screened prior to workplace arrival is correct.

Do airports screen all those workers who are employed by the restaurants, etc., located in airports or are they allowed to pass through as do airline crews?

Nah - they're too busy turning American grandmothers upside-down in compliance with the mandates of Political Correctness.

I suspect those "political" leanings may be changing, too.

I don't undestand what kind of screening you mean, but many things pass through the screeners with no problems, if you are talking about those metal detector things. I don't suppose they can make employees lie down on the conveyor belt and be Xrayed before going home from work.

YOu can steal lots of things and put it in your pocket or coat, your bag or things you carry to work and may keep in an employee locker or somewhere.

Are we talking about checked baggage or carry-on?

When things start getting stolen from carry-on baggage at the security checkpoint then we really DO have a problem.

Well, I'll give you one example. When I came back from Paris last month I flew into SFO and then had a flight from SFO to Reno (home). I tried to see if I could get on an earlier flight by going stand-by. I couldn't get on the flight but my luggage did. When I finally got to Reno I could see my luggage stored inside the locked luggage room. A man came and opened the room (they do that after every flight arrival), I walked into the room and said "this is my luggage" and was thinking he would check my tags. All he said was "fine, go ahead and take it". He never gave me a second glance. I could have walked out of there with FIVE suitcases if I'd wanted to. So there ya go.

Crefloors this is not the same as a baggage handler going through your luggage as it makes its way to and from the aircraft.

Some time ago there was a verutal "ring" of American baggage handlers arrested at National Airport in Washington because they were routinely opening bags and going through them after they had been checked in. These guys had rings full of keys which would fit every type and brand of bag (this was obviously pre-9/11).

i agree, however, that is is routinely very easy to "claim" someone else's bag at bag claim and walk off with it..and I suspect it has happened when the rightful owner was staning on the outher side of the carousel, too.

Yes, I do wonder about this, also. Do they have a special place where they can rifle through luggage in private? Do they use x-ray to locate luggage with electronic items? Is it just hit-and miss, knowing that the most seasoned traveler can slip up? Maybe they look for new luggage, figuring that green-horns won't know that they shouldn't pack valuables?

Maybe there are some baggage thieves or airport security experts lurking here who could enlighten us...

;)

I think it only happens when it's a group of dishonest employees.
Last week in a French newsletter, I read that 16 airport workers at CDG were sentenced for stealing out of luggage from 2004-2005.

I have wondered about this too. One trip my carryon was taken away from me at the gate for being "too large", I was given a tag and it was swept off to be put in the plane's hold. I didn't have time to secure the locks.

When I did get it back a few things were missing and I have always wondered at what point was it easy for someone to go into it and take out some electronics. It must be done by two people, one to keep watch and the other to open bags? Or they just turn away when they see their co-worker riffling though someone's bag. Very odd.

You know, now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever been asked to show my baggage claim check - not it any city I've travelled to, either here in the U.S. or a foreign country. Are we all operating under the honor system? Or the fear that the bag's true owner will see me taking the bag off the carousel and beat the stuffing out of me.

Ok, Final Jeopardy!

You are a dishonest baggage handler and you are down in that place in the bowels of the airport where all luggage is sent from the check-in.

Two bags show up at the same time; one is a Louis Vuitton and the other is an EagleCreek duffel.

You only <b>have enough time to steal from one bag</b>; which one would you choose?????

Interesting story, crefloors. I know that at Laguardia in particular, there used to always be a guard you had to pass by after picking up your luggage off the carousel, and he/she checked your claim tags. I've had that at other airports as well. But that doesn't happen any more. It seems in some ways, more attention has gone into security about the &quot;dangers&quot; in luggage, but less care about someone stealing it.

Dukey, I think a more plausible situation would be that two identical black 26 inch bags with wheels and telescoping handles show up.

;)

When I picked up my son at John Wayne Airport, they had the unclaimed bags stacked by the exit door and absolutely no one monitoring them. We could have taken every bag we could carry or even more if I had a cart.

I think it is strange theft doesn't happen more often.

Ok, Trophy: I'd pick the black bag with the telescoping handle which weighs the most.

Are you saying you never ever check your Louis Vuitton?

You are not implying employees can be screened each time they take breaks, step outside to smoke, go to lunch?

Also, do you think somebody will keep a track of umbrellas and cameras brought to work and taken back home? Or check their lunch boxes and gym bags?

I was flying on a pass out of Raleigh-Durham, too many flights backed up, lousy weather, couldn't get to LaGuardia. But sure enough, my bag did. I verified that it was at LGA, figuring I'd just pick it up next day... if I got on a flight.

Next day I was way too tired to make the 00-dark-30 flight, rather said &quot;screw-it for free&quot;, booked a o/w ticket and flew the next day. It was so nice to have a real seat, and actually treated like a human being; security was a breeze, all flights on time. A little over an hour and 2/days later, I deplane in LGA, walk to the luggage storage room and there was my bag.

I had to show identification, as did everyone else there to collect luggage. Guess it depends on who's on duty where and when.

But, I have to agree, there are fewer and fewer airports that have someone matching luggage tags with paxs collecting bags and leaving the terminal.