I really like the idea of the TSA person having to put their name or id number on the documents for enhanced accountability. After all, we are quite vulnerable when it comes to the fact that there is only ONE TSA agent looking through our bags without having to be responsible for their being allowed to go through and possibly stealing something from us.

DN Brown

Posted By Diane Brown on May 8, 2008, 1:10 PM

Why don't they have cameras in the baggage area?

http://www.10news.com/investigations/10958212/detail.html

"From a hidden surveillance video of a TSA officer taken three years ago, it showed that in less than 45 seconds the officer is able to steal a gold bracelet from a piece of luggage.

10News investigators noticed that with security cameras everywhere in the airport, none were found in the baggage area. While there are plans to install cameras in the area in the future, there are currently no cameras to monitor the officers who have the right to search your luggage."

Posted By stewart on May 8, 2008, 1:56 PM

If TSA searches are made because of an "alarm" then why can't we lock our bags to avoid such easy access by all the many other handlers? TSA can easily unlock bags if necessary. I'd rather buy a new lock than travel with my belongings unprotected.

Posted By CDG on May 8, 2008, 2:47 PM

How many TSA employees are discharged for wrong doing. Specifically wrongs done to the traveling public.

Posted By Larry Hartnett on May 8, 2008, 3:26 PM

Hi, Larry,
Thanks for posting your comment.
As our blog has reported before,
About 20 to 26 percent of TSA workers leave their jobs—or are let go—each year.
More specifically, when it comes to wrong-doing, the TSA says:
To date, we have terminated and sought prosecution for about 200 of our employees who have been accused of stealing, either from checked bags, passengers’ carry-ons or fellow employees. While 200 out of more than 110,000 employees is a minuscule percentage (less than one half of one percent) over the short life of the agency, one theft is too many when you are in the position of public trust as we are.

details here:
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2008/02/security_is_job_turnover_high.html

Hope that answers your question,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on May 8, 2008, 3:42 PM

If a passenger has experienced loss, damage, etc due to negligence by a TSA employee and the TSA then denies the claim "in order to be good stewards," why should the passenger then have to come up with new evidence? If a TSA employee has already been found to be negligent by their own internal investigations, the passenger should be reimbursed for the item.

Posted By Chris on May 8, 2008, 6:10 PM

I had locks cut off of my suitcases after 911. Since TSA is the only one allowed to inspect opened baggage I would assume they would have cut the locks. No TSA notice was inside the bags. But reading the blogs it becomes clearer that either TSA or baggage handlers could have done it.

Posted By Dale Shamp on May 9, 2008, 3:17 PM

why does TSA allow airlines to hire illegal aliens as baggage handlers? is this a job that no american will do? http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/31/me-3-tia-bag-handlers-accused-of-dealing-in-stolen/

TSA and Airlines are always to blame.

STOP RAISING AIRFARES WITH BOGUS FEES and STOP STEALING MY STUFF.

Posted By theSuperStar on May 11, 2008, 11:04 PM

Dale,
I’m sorry to hear that the locks were cut off. That’s an expense and a nuisance.
Thanks for sharing your story. By getting the word out, it will put pressure on for reforms—hopefully.
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Sean on May 12, 2008, 5:19 PM

After returning home to Los Angeles from a lengthy trip I found that my entire toiletry & medicine kit was missing from my bag. There was no TSA notice inside my bag that it had been inspected. A few days later, I got a call from a Costco in Boise telling me that they had my kit. A resident of Boise found my kit in their bag after returning from a trip at the same time and the only identifier of my kit was a prescription that I had from the Costco where I live. That person took my kit to the Boise Costco, they tracked me down via my prescription number, called me and after I confirmed my loss, sent the entire kit to me with no charge.

Kudos to the thoughtful traveler from Boise and the Costco pharmacy worker. I called both to thank them. However, relative to the airlines, TSA and baggage handlers, someone had to have inspected both bags intially, but when I spoke to the Boise traveler, he hadn't gotten a TSA inspection notice either. Obviously, either the TSA is lying or unaware of their employees failure to follow their own rules to include such a notice or some baggage handlers are having a grand time rifling through everybody's luggage and doing it so quickly and with so many bags simultaneously that they forget what goes back where.

And, by the way, my understanding about why there are no cameras in the baggage handling areas is that the unions won't allow it because they consider the presence of cameras as "an invasion of the baggage workers' privacy" or that the airlines simply want to spy on them. Considering the amount of theft that goes on, I would think that passengers' rights to protect the ownership of their property would prevail over the right of baggage handlers to pilfer through their bags with total anonymity. What can we passengers do to lobby for such personal property protection?

Posted By Bob K on May 13, 2008, 1:01 PM

I do not mind having luggage inspected. I do mind having the clothing all wadded up and stuffed back in after inspection after it has been carefully packed by me. I have not had anything stolen but I certainly would never pack anything I wasn't prepared to lose. I know some TSA ers and they are not of highly reputable character.
Please do not use my name

Posted By barbara on May 13, 2008, 1:09 PM

The airlines blame TSA and TSA blames the airline handlers in a vicious circle.

But surly just looking at the percentage of thefts from TSA searched vs. not searched bags should narrow down the problem. Why has no one in authority done that?

Posted By Etienne on May 14, 2008, 3:24 AM

The inspection slip is meaningless, as is comparing theft rates of searched vs. not searched bags. If a TSA inspector is going to steal something, would the inspector be stupid enough to pack an inspection slip in the bag after stealing from it?

Posted By Bill G on June 26, 2008, 6:43 PM

I just returned to Long Beach from JFK Last Night, and found that my brand new Canon Rebel XSI was stolen from my bag, along with a $3000 lens.

Welcome to America folks, the most corrupt country in the world, these people here, have no shame and not a shred of decency, All Americans should be punished for allowing this treatment to continue, it is the responsibility of the american people who elect their representatives to elect people who will not begin wars and steal from civilians, somehow the fact that I just lost $4000 in camera equipment does not surprise me after reading this here post. It's just another nail in the coffin for the american spirit, the longer you tolerate treatment like this from your government, the more you are responsible.

Posted By Jacob Alifrangis on July 26, 2008, 2:30 PM

And WHY do you folks still check bags? Never check and guess what? You never lose. I have checked 1 bag
in the past 5 years and that was because I had scotch from Scotland (can't pass the silly liquid restriction through security) and that made me nervous.
My son and I just spent 3 weeks in Europe together.......a back pack each...a great way to travel, learn how.
And for those who put anything worth more than a few bucks in a checked bag, well.... that is just silly.

Posted By Don on August 14, 2008, 11:00 PM

So given that there are 67,000 claims with some percentage of those being legitimate in that the theft occured after the bag was checked in and before it was picked up at the baggage claim area aren't each of those incidents an opportunity not only for something to be taken but for a bomb to be placed inside the luggage? I think the fact that there is theft indicates a lack of actual security. Terrorists will have the harder job of having to have a man on the inside but as the airlines start to squeeze wages and are forced to hire people with fewer questions asked it seems like that possibility just got more likely.

I'm really disgusted with TSA. I've read a lot of bad press and it is usually countered with arrogance. I don't see how we are being served by them as clearly they aren't offering more security.

Posted By Pete on August 15, 2008, 3:06 PM

..on a separate trip, my daughters'cd's were taken. On my trip, my bag was inspected in both directions. Seems that when you check-in early, you are most vulnerable to baggage inspection at their leisure. Medication was skimmed from the medication container. I noticed immediately upon picking it up that it was half the original amount.
...why do we not have the right to lock our luggage? How can we expect to take everything of 'value' in a carry on. All of my things are of value and I would rather they were not taken and have to replace them.
..travelers should be able to be present during inspection as you check-in your luggage if that is the request and then lock n load it. Yea, I said it.
thanks, r.

Posted By renata on August 16, 2008, 5:30 PM

I filed a claim cause TSA searched my bag and left the front pocket open. I retrieved my bag and saw it was left open after coming out of the chute and then inside found the little slip to say they searched it. Anyway my nike i pod with lots of info was nowhere to be found. TSA denied my claim and said they were not negligent? I mean seriously I cant believe they wont front up a 50 dollar claim when it was obviously thier fault. Just a bit more confirmation as to why I moved out of the US.

Posted By Amy on August 25, 2008, 5:55 AM

I have had all my costume jewelry taken from LV airport. TSA lock cut off and jewelry missing from middle of the bag.

WHY would you put a canon rebel and a lens in your checked luggage????...Or an Ipod????..that's just asking for it to be taken in my opinion...If they will steal costume jewelry, they will steal valuables.

I put everything in bags so that a suitcase has 6bags in it....much easier than having my clothes just crammed back in.

And cameras in the baggage are a violation of the handlers privacy....WHAT ABOUT OUR PRIVACY???? Apparently the customer's privacy doesn't count at all.

Posted By j j on August 25, 2008, 12:22 PM

TSA is a joke! For being a security captain of many years, I applied for baggage position. I did exceptionally well and passed the 4 hour tests. Needless to say they hired the idiot that sat next to me and told me I could re-apply in 6 months. In an overall view of the way they run things and what needed to be changed for the customer, they weren't interested. I never re-applied due to I thought there would be no growth and valuable ideas for improvement would not be taken into consideration.... Then 911 happened and I new it was due to TSA's lack of good security and interest in the safety of customers and their valuables... Sincerely, Hope Erlandson

Posted By Hope on August 25, 2008, 1:20 PM

Coming from Philadelphia to San Francisco, TSA broke my in-good-shape luggage locked with a TSA approved lock. The bag showed in the conveyor with the zipper forced broken, partially wrapped in plastic with some of the contents broken and lying on the conveyor belt. There was a TSA Notice of Inspection inside. TSA denied my claim to replace my luggage and to reimburse for the item they broke. My claim was supported by proper receipts, pictures, and report from the S.F. airport witnessing the luggage carrying with the TSA approved locker and broken anyway. I did not include a missing item as I didn't keep the receipt for that. TSA has disappointed me completely, it does not matter that you comply with paying taxes, acquiring expensive approved locks as they require, they do not take responsibility for their negligence. TSA ABUSSERS.

Posted By Maria E. on September 8, 2008, 8:53 PM

In summer 2004, as cameras and other electronic devices were so much trouble at security checks and locking luggage was discouraged, I put my camera and Sony Clio accessories in my luggage on top when flying from Los Angeles to New York JFK. Both were stolen.As a very frequent flier in and out of New York for many years, I suspect the theft occurred in Los Angeles-my first visit there. Theft is a very unpleasant experience, because you lose the precious photos in your camera, and it is not easy to replace the accessories for your out of date PDA. The dismay and heartache such incidents incur is also very poignant.No compensation or excuse is enough to compensate loss of trust. TSA and airport employees should not be acting like simple thieves.

Posted By gultan on September 11, 2008, 5:57 AM

Never, ever pack and check ANYTHING that would make you lay on your back, with tears in your ears, if it were lost. Cameras, laptops, jewelry, currency have no place being in your unlocked, checked luggage. You pack this at your own risk. Go to any airline website and read the "exclusionary" items. If your bag is lost, you will get paid for clothes and common toiletries.

Posted By DUCHESS10 on October 8, 2008, 8:33 PM

Last January when arriving at a destination with one interim stop at JFK, I noticed that on my two checked bags the TSA approved locks were removed. One bag had no damage, just the lock removed. The other had the lock removed and the lock rings on the luggage cut. Inside that bag one corner of the clothes were folded back an a video camera removed. The retaining straps were not opened. The remainder of the contents were undisturbed. Obviously it was known where the camera was. Also interesting is the fact that the other lock was removed (by TSA key?)from the luggage. It certainly would have been easier to cut the lock shank rather than cutting the much stronger locking rings on the luggage, which seemed like an attempt to make it look like some other dude did it. Seems obvious that the whereabouts of the camera was determined from an x-ray image of the contents.
I filed a claim with the TSA, which I lost because they said I had no proof (which is true) and that A TSA agent has no opportunity to steal as they are watched constantly and are never left alone when examining luggage. But the preponderance of evidence and logic points to the TSA. I think I'll try to reopen my TSA complaint. I certainly will never pack anything of value in checked luggage again.

Posted By A. Fribourg on October 29, 2008, 4:26 PM

I had an incident when I travell from Boston via JFK for my international trip. The TSA stickers in my tags were TSA-JFK. Is it supposed to be Boston?

I had locked my suitcase with a TSA secured lock. The Suitcase and lock was intact but I lost my laptop, camera, gifts and personal handbag inside one of my check-in luggage that was locked. Not all the valuables were lost.

No NOI was left on both of my suitcases. I could clearly see both of my suitcases were inspected and all my items were misplaced, items inside the bags were spilled over and all the tied plastic bags containing electronic items were cut open through the sides for inspection.

I filed a claim with TSA but the claim was denied. The lock doesn't look to be tampered. I have sent all photo evidences to TSA but still the claim was denied. I don't have any new evidences. My airline gave me a $80 compensation when I submitted the claim for $2500.

I'm not sure what I need to do now.

Posted By Satheesh Kumar Murugan on December 12, 2008, 4:29 AM

A friend from Brazil was leaving JFK and asked what TSA meant on the shirts of the agents - the only logical explanation I could think of was "Too Stupid to get a job Anywhere else.

Posted By MIchael on December 17, 2008, 2:22 PM

I had a Swarovski Christmas Ornament stolen from my luggage on the way from PHL to IND. No one item in the bag was valued at over $100, nor irreplacable - so I figured I would be ok.
My baggage was delayed, and the leaded glass crystal ornament was taken from its box, which was neatly placed back exactly as I had packed it. There was not a NOI.
I am certain it was TSA, as someone would have had to have seen the ornament on the X-ray to know it was there and where it was packed in my bag.
Unfortunately, my mother had an empty box for Christmas :o( Thankfully I was able to order another one online directly from Swarovski before they ran out, and have it delivered shortly after Christmas.
TSA = Thieves Surely are Annoying

Posted By Julie on January 1, 2009, 3:20 PM

TSA screeners steal, again!
Just today, 1/3/09, 4 music CDs, several DVDs and a book were stolen by TSA screeners at Miami Int. Airport from a locked bag. At the destination the the bag showed up marked as "opened for inspection" and the CDs are missing. It is unfortunate that we the people helped put this TSA mess in place are helpless to do anything about it.

Posted By Manny on January 3, 2009, 7:56 PM

I had a brand new pair of UGG tall boots stolen from my luggage. Where do you stuff them to steal them? When I called the airline I could not reach a real person. When my husband called his Gold American phone number they said I was beyond the 24 hour time limit for a claim. I e-mailed customer service and have not received a response. I have sent a claim form to TSA and I am waiting to here. Everyone told us something different on how to proceed. I checked with Philadelphia's TSA lost and found and they said to go through the claim department. They said they only worry about what goes into the airports not what goes out. So I guess stolen items are not anyones concern except for the person it was stolen from. I had the chance to watch baggage handlers in Chicago from my seat at my gate. The whole system is horrible. Let's make these people responsible for the job they do! I saw bags dropped, tossed put on top of carriers to fall off on route to conveyor belts. I'm glad I didn't pack my skis or snowboard. If we incur all of these fees we deserve a certain level of care and security with our personal items.

Posted By CATHY on January 9, 2009, 9:47 AM

I was in Europe from 25 of December until the 12th of January. I flew from Budapest to London Heathrow first with British Airlines on the 12th of January. I insured my checked in bags (2 pieces) in Hungary (for $1500 each), and they put a plastic cover around my lagguages. From London, I arrived to JFK New York, got my lagguages with the plastic covers still on. I spent 9 hours at the airport waiting for my next flight to Miami on the 13th early a.m., then from Miami to Providenciales.
At the JFK check in, the lady at the counter gave me scissors to cut off the plastic cover. I did not argue, although I did not understand but i thought it is the part of the security process. I had a funny feeling though as I've just lost my insurance on my bags...
I did not pick up my lagguage in Miami they went through to Providenciales, TCI. I got home, unpacked and sadly I realized some of my stuff were missing...my biggest loss is a pair of Giorgo Armani shoes which i purchased here on the island and took home only for repair!!!! I claimed at AA office in a toll free number immediately, and went to the airport again in the next morning. They asked me to fill out a form and i was told they would call me within 7 days... no answer since then... how can they be so unreliable????
'Funny' but I had some more items missing which I did put on the declaration form...so i declared some stuff which actually got stolen... very nice!

Posted By zita on January 24, 2009, 2:37 PM

Of 4 bags checked, the one with my Fuji S100fs camera was opened by tsa (being tall I was able to look over a screen at IAD and see that only that bag was being pulled apart). Needless to say, the camera only was missing on arrival. The search was long...15min or so, the tsa agent turning to comment to other agents. The other agents never seemed to look at the inspector,they seemed bored with what he was saying, so he really did not have any witnesses.
I filed the claim forms by fax and email. Also wrote lost and found tsa and Dulles. No reply for a month now.
Just my observations...

Posted By Luke on February 13, 2009, 6:01 AM

Even "personal" items are stolen. My son's 2 expensive coats were stolen when flying from Las Vegas to Boston Tues Feb 17. They also took a pair of nice jeans but I know it was the Italian leather coat they wanted. Where does the thief put these things when he/she leaves work? Perhaps they are just allowed to carry these things out. So far Jetblue says it is TSA. TSA said it is Jetblue. No one will take responsibility. They give you the run around hoping you will give up. We will be filing a police report and send a letter from a lawyer. I don't think anything will be done. I haven't read any success stories of them actually being responsible or even looking for the thief.

Posted By Linda on February 19, 2009, 11:50 AM

I flew from Kansas to Billings Montana and back this last weekend to get some stuff from home that I would need for school. My parents decided to give me an early birthday present (a 3,000 dollar Dell XPS laptop) and I didn't even take it out of its box that it came in. Since I was checking a back I decided to wrapt it neatly in the pants and dress shirts that I was taking back to Kansas with me. Everything was great in Billings, I checked the bag and since it was a small airport I could watch the TSA pass the bag through to the conveyor and off to the baggage handlers. When I got to Wichita there was a slit in the side of my suitcase from one end all the way down to the other and my computer was gone as were most of the clothes it was wrapped in. I could care less about the bag and the clothes, I would just like my birthday present back. By the way it was United Airlines.

Posted By Tyler on February 26, 2009, 12:34 PM

Just returned from a trip, opened my luggage to find a very special item gone.

I would always check my bag for convenience as I am rarely in such a rush, but after this I will never trust any of these low lives again; unless I absolutely have to...

There are just some occupations that attract such losers.

Posted By axa on August 1, 2009, 7:59 PM

TSA in Las Vegas Airport stole a laptop out of my checked on bag. I filed a claim with TSA and they denied it. I guess they expect me to provide some kind of evidence, LOL how the hell am I suppose to provide evidence. The one lady who called and asked me some questions asked if there was a note saying TSA went into my bag. Well no... there wasn't... but why the hell would the thief leave his calling card???
How about they install some god damn cameras so they can show me that my bag went through security unopened.
Guess next time I'll pack a camera in my bag that is sending video to a computer back home so I can provide evidence. God I hate TSA.

Posted By Brandon on August 30, 2009, 9:58 PM

On a recent flight from Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh, I had a laptop stolen from a checked suitcase. I filed a claim with the airline which they denyed within an hour of receiving it. I filed a claim with TSA which after reading all of these entries I realize was just a waste of time. I know TSA opened the laptop case because they left a notice in my previous flight. But of course I have no proof so I guess it is live and learn.

Posted By ken on October 15, 2009, 6:13 PM

On Oct 18, 2009, I was coming home from Oklahoma, on Southwest flight 139. I had my luggage zippers zip tied together, I handed it over to the check baggage folks, upon arriving at BWI and collecting my bag I found my zip ties missing and a TSA NOI inside and that was the last time I saw my iTouch 32 GB device, it cost me a little over $400 when I bought it. Why does TSA cut locks and zip ties off and not re-secure the baggage. If TSA removes locking devices prior to all the other hands that touch my luggage they are responsible from then on.
And of course Southwest simple says we are not liable for electronic devices in checked baggage. TSA wants me to supply evidence, HOW? I guess they think I can go into the "SECURED" baggage area and do my own investigation. They have an easy out, just deny the claims and it is all our problem. We can't trust TSA with our luggage and they are suppose to protect our lives. One last thing, I guess the Black Market is still alive and well at our local Airports, thanks to TSA.

Posted By Dennis Baldwin on October 23, 2009, 9:35 AM

I travel more than most---I never put anything into my checked baggage that I couldn't afford to lose. Even before TSA I never did that. I had my luggage broken into 2x's in Brazil. Minor things stolen. That's just common sense. I carry my cameras, ipods & money. I carry double prescriptions--one in my carry-on and one in my check in just in case. Last year I went on 14 vacation trips and never lost a thing. I use the TSA locks. Use your common sense.

Posted By Rosie G on November 9, 2009, 7:57 PM