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.