Has any of your stuff been stolen by baggage handlers?

[Doc]

The better Maple Syrup is $240 per gallon.

to all deaf ears... please ignore the following:

"General" SCUBA gear (reg sets, bc, etc) is of comparatively little value for resale. Plain fact.

Carry your cameras, dive computers, and yes- even cheap watches.

SCUBA gear is, by the nature of its bulk, hard to secrete (hide) and remove from a secured area. Physical fact.

TSA is frightened of hermitically sealed containers. They will remove Pelican cases for special handling. They may then be lost or mis-packed. The same applies to any type of "seal" on a pressure cylinder (as in ScareAir or CCR units). If there is even a piece of scotch tape across the opening, certain warnings are triggered. Hermetically sealed containers defeat their sniffer devices. Many people cover the opening of their tanks with all sorts of meaningless gossamer plugs- absolutely forbidden by TSA. ("must be open")

I have asked that question posed above previously. Zero responses, no reported thefts.

I pack in my checked bags a $600 Strider GB folding knife. It is nested inside three small mesh bags, cable tied closed. These bags are then cable tied to the inside bottom of the suitcase. There are (no kidding) 1" metal Christmas bells tied to it. Ain't nobody stealing that...

...the SCUBA gear? I'm not worried about it for the above reasons.

 

[chairmanTARAC]

Had a dive knife stolen at Caracus airport on they way back from Los Roques. Probably Chavez needed it to overthrow the government back then.

 

[DMDavid]

Ten Tips for the traveling diver:

1. Don't use zippered softsided bags.
2. Check-in early so that TSA doesn't have to rush your bag through.
3. Use TSA approved locks so that they won't have to cut your locks off.
4. Place a label on the inside of your bag with destination info and phone contact.
5. Label any strange boxes with contents tag so that TSA doesn't have to take it apart to figure it out.
6. Don't carry anything that looks like an explosive (ie, Alarm clock with flares wrapped in an extension cord).
7. Travel with a good quality bag that won't pop or rip open with the slightest impact.
8. Don't travel with overweight bags even if you're willing to pay the overweight fee.
9. Don't leave nasty notes for the TSA agent inside your baggage.
10. Fill the top half of your bag with underwear that has fake stains (or real) on it.

 

[Wolfie]

Going to cayman 2 years ago from JFK, my wife's bag was partially empty (room for souvenirs). When we got to the hotel there was an extra box (empty) in her bag. Seems they stole from one and put the evidence in another. I would have to say its not TSA, for this trip it's the baggage handlers. Many TSA stations are in view of passengers, I watched our bags get processed then watched handlers take them away, then waited 2 hours for boarding. As for my gear bag no one will touch it. It's a 30 yo POS faded green canvas duffel. Helps with the theft yet creates another issue when you look like a bum trying to get into a country that prohibits importation of bums....

 

[DandyDon]

Nope, other than a bottle of sole dressing I was bringing back for a Marine - and TSA did leave a flyer. Maybe it was flammable...?

Many people cover the opening of their tanks with all sorts of meaningless gossamer plugs- absolutely forbidden by TSA. ("must be open")

Ever flown with a pony...?

I have removed the valve from mine since that rule started, always covering with 2" electrical tape, each end folded back for easy removal. I have watched TSA agents remove it halfway and replace it, more commonly to just look at it on the X-ray or Catscan seeing that the valve is removed - with no interest. Returning, I seldom get to see agents do the inspections, but never had a problem.

I have thought about packing it inside a transparent bag with the end secured by a twisty, but that would also violate the letter of the rule - and be more likely to get left open I think. Above all I want the inside of my pony to stay clean.

I have never heard of anyone losing a pony in checked bags.

 

[Damselfish]

I've never had anything stolen, and I use soft zippered bags. I'm sure it happens, but I think damage due to clueless/careless/rushed inspectors is more likely. (Though I must say, most inspectors I've seen in action actually seem to be quite careful and respectful of stuff - mileage may vary if they're not seen?) Anyway, I try and pack with the small possibility of theft and the larger possibility of screwup in mind.

Curious about the first aid kit in a Pelican box - was it like red with a cross on it, or just stuff in a generic pelican box? I avoid boxes like that, besides weight/bulk I think they can attract attention, like there might be something good in there. Someone might snag a small pelican without even looking in it, hoping to open it later and find something good. (Or if it was an obvious first aid kit maybe they would hope for meds?)

I've gone from pelican type boxes to Tupperware to a large mask box for my first aid and save-a-dive type stuff when traveling. Recently I was looking at new dryboxes then thought - is there ANYTHING in my stuff that needs the protection of a hard drybox? Nope. Anything little or that must stay really dry is in assorted ziplocs, and it's now all in 2 small compartmented zipper bags that were once airline kits from when they gave you nice ones in 1st class. Easy/light to pack and I throw them in my small new drybag for a dayboat.

 

[flots am]

In June had a $24 bottle of maple syrup stolen from checked luggage. Flew to L.A. yesterday and a $125 custom first aid kit in a Pelican box was stolen.

I think it is the guys that x-ray the checked luggage. (TSA?) They would not find it otherwise, both were buried deep inside for padding protection.

Have you lost anything to thieving baggage handlers?

Any suggestions on how to avoid it? Could not hand carry first aid, had sharps, liquids, etc.

Theft from baggage is a huge problem.

If you file a claim with the airport manager, you'll probably get a check without much trouble.

They know they have a problem and generally want to be able to figure out who is doing it.

It probably wasn't the TSA. The x-ray guy has no way to steal your pelican case. I'm guessing it happened in the baggage area and was probably a regular airport employee.

flots.

 

[j2s]

I try as much as possible to ship & insure gear to my dive destination(s) via UPS/DHL or one of the other reliable shippers....Can't always do it and it may cost extra but have never had a problem.......Don't have to lug it thru A/P's, don't have to worry about weight, theft or TSA agents....Just me and my carry-on.....Makes life easier.........

 

[thankfulforlife]

never had anything stolen from bags,i take about 30flights a year,usually around astralasia..
dive hard suitcase,is always locked....back-pack of course can never be locked...

 

[Doubler]

My son the TSA agent says it is not TSA stealing from baggage. He told me that there are so many cameras recording all they do in the inspection area that it would be impossible for them to get away with any theft. Baggage handling area is a different story.