$31 Million Worth Of Lost Valuables On The TSA's Watch

[DeSwiss]

$31 million worth of lost valuables on the TSA's watch

BoingBoing
Posted by Cory Doctorow
March 1, 2008 1:25 AM

A Fox affiliate managed to get ahold of the TSA's raw data on luggage theft on their watch and is reporting that a whopping $31 million worth of valuables disappeared from the aviation system in the past three years. Many of these items went missing from within suitcases, pilfered in transit after the TSA inaugurated its no-locks policy on checked bags. Now that's security.

A former KCI baggage handler, who asked us not to identify her, said she knows theft happens even in Kansas City. "There was never anybody who said I did that," said the baggage handler. "But there was always talk. So and so found something in a bag. Shoes were one. Another one was perfumes, really expensive brands."

She said the best time for luggage to be tampered with is when it's in the baggage hold area. That's where it is stored before it's loaded onto the plane. "You will have one person down there and all they are doing is transferring bags to different carts," said the former baggage handler. "It only takes one person. So you would just be in a room by yourself."

She said one way to get away with the crime was to rifle through a bag and then put it on the wrong plane headed to the wrong city. When the luggage is finally located, it would be unclear where the crime took place.

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/01/31-million-worth-of.html">LINK

- So they're protecting us from "the terrarists" by turning us over to the thieves....
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DeSwiss



on edit: spelling. again. dammit!

[NMMNG]

1. But at least people won't be taking any bottled water on the planes

Don't you feel good about that?

[DeSwiss]

2. Yeah well....

...considering some of the http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/chap1.asp">stuff they find in bottled water these days.... ummmmm, yeah I do.



on edit: I need sleep.......

[NMMNG]

5. You have a point there.

Now go to bed! ;-)

[DeSwiss]

10. Insomnia precludes it being nothing more than....

...an exercise in futility. I thought all the DUers up at this hour were insomniacs like me anyways!!!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

12. nah...some of us are early risers... n/t

[MaryCeleste]

16. Not true...You just get to buy it at a much higher price inside the terminal!

[NMMNG]

17. That's right...they let you take *theirs* on

I'd forgotten about that. Anything to make more $$$. :eyes:

[mnhtnbb]

3. I NEVER check luggage with the airlines anymore. I only take carry-on.

[DeSwiss]

6. So far I've escaped by not flying anymore at all....

...and I'll keep not flying as long as I can. I just leave earlier now.




"Cheap... cheap.... cheap. Okay, I'll just keep the panties then....."

[cornermouse]

4. Pshaw.

Tis but a pittance to pay in exchange for safe passage on one of those flying devil machines. :eyes:

[DeSwiss]

7. Oh damn!

- I haven't seen the word "pshaw" written since my 11th grade world lit class with Ms. Woods. And mind you, that was back when a lot people were still using it!!

As for that "pittance" I suppose you've got a point when you compare that against the $$$TRILLION$$$ dollars we've poured down teh rabbit hole....

[cornermouse]

9. lol

:7

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. i don't believe that story for one second

those numbers are way off on the low side, to be sure...not to mention the word 'lost' is a bit of a stretch.

sP

[DeSwiss]

11. That's all they're admitting to....

...and that their story and they're sticking to it!!!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

13. i wish i could admit to steal $31million

and get away with it...maybe that is the key...steal it...report that you did it...get to keep it?

sP

[DeSwiss]

14. Hell....

...I'd settle for enough to payoff my mortgage.

[onethatcares]

15. Hey honey, look what I got ya at work today.

some of that nice perfume we couldn't afford on my salary. :evilgrin: