I pretend that all TSA screening gate agents are trying to steal from me

[DandyDon]

I'm confident that thefts are rare. Actually they were pretty nice to me last trip. They always pretend to look thru my roll-on at my scuba gear in Lubbock, but they got rid of the ******* - or restrained him somehow. I took a long layover in DFW outside and when I came back thru - one reminded me to take the pen out of my pocket before, then after - another asked me if I can coins in my pocket, no groping searches required; no hassles. I'd hate to go thru Miami tho. And I always pretend that they all will try to steal from me, watching my stuff very closely...!!

For one I never use their little trays for pockets items. I take out my 3-1-1 bag with any liquids from my backpack like I am supposed to, but I empty my pockets into another quart size zip lock and place it inside my back pack. Anything that won't fit in it like my camera I like to carry on my belt just goes in the back pack.

Then, I do not allow my roll-on & back pack to go thru the X-ray before me, or me before them. My stuff & I go thru together, I don't care if they think I am holding up their lines, it stays with me or in my sight! I watch it closely as it enters the machine and exits, and wait right there for it until it exits if they stop the machine to look closer at my dive gear - more so if they grab it to send it back thru again. It all happens with me watching closely.

Now & then one will grab my backpack or roll-on to examine the inside, and they routinely ask permission - and I remind them to wait until I am cleared to be right there. None of this taking it away to search without my presence!

Of course, all cash, passports, medicines, and other valuables go in my backpack if at all possible, and never ever leaves my body. I try to avoid packing anything appealing in checked bags. I still check 90# or more on every trip, but no cameras or such - and I never take any jewelry.

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[Doc]

It's still as common as winning the lottery, but....Convicted TSA agent who stole more than $800K worth of goods from passengers says stealing from bags is

And really- nobody steals SCUBA gear, there is so much more valuable stuff that is easier to pilfer and get real money for.

Use your head, pack smart.

 

[DandyDon]

It's still as common as winning the lottery, but....Convicted TSA agent who stole more than $800K worth of goods from passengers says stealing from bags is

It seems to be all too common, but then I guess your lottery-winning analogy would includ all of those small lottery winnings that keep people playing when they should know better. My video and your linked story both suggest it's all too common: "TSA agents on the take justify their actions, he explained. .They aren’t paying me, they’re treating me wrong. They’re doing this and they’re doing that. And they just don’t care,' he said of some of his former colleagues." He was stealing $200,000/year and he says it's common.

When I say I pretend, tho - I am also including chances of losses because the agents accidentally left something out of an inspected bag, another passenger might steal, or that I may accidentally leave something, as well as the little pocket items buckets getting spilled or pilfered. The way that many people throw their valuables out on the moving belts and hand moved buckets just leaves way too much chance for loss I think.

And really- nobody steals SCUBA gear, there is so much more valuable stuff that is easier to pilfer and get real money for.

I wasn't talking about gear at all.

Use your head, pack smart.

Yes, that was part of my point - to protect the more appealing valuables by packing them carefully, then watching them as if thieves were trying to sneak them away in the hassle.