Stolen engagement ring at Madrid Airport - help!
 

Two days ago my engagement ring was lost or stolen going through the departure security gate in Terminal 1. I had put my ring in a tray along with some other stuff. After going through the scanner I picked up the tray and my went suitcase and took it to a table nearby; I then took my things out of the tray, picked up my suitcase and took it to a nearby seat where I put my things in my bag and zipped it up. Realised I didn't have my ring, went back to table/tray but no ring there; searched through suitcase but not there either.

I tried talking to security officials, information, lost property, Guardia Civil, Police etc but noone really cared or helped thoroughly search for my ring. Police told me to call to make a denuncia but I see online that violent force must be involved in a robbery, not where the thief is unknown.

There was a security camera above the table where my tray was, and I really want airport staff/police to review this. I know that a civilian may have stolen it, but due to the especial unhelpfulness of security staff, I have reason to suspect that one of the stole it.

It is very valuable, both monetarily and sentimentally.

Does anyone have any advice for what I can do, people I can talk to who will LISTEN?

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/h...ort--help.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTo...lp-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.