STOLEN CAMERA
I just had a $1000 camera 'pilfered' from my baggage while traveling with American Airlines (AA). I arrived in Tucson AZ on Saturday October 7 (2006), flying from Paris (CDG) with a layover in Chicago O'Hare. On arriving at my destination and opening my bag, I immediately noticed my bag was not packed the way I had packed it. My $1000 camera, a $60 camera bag, and a $100 pair of prescription sunglasses were STOLEN.
Phoning the Tucson baggage services was useless, AA does nothing for 'pilfered items' and only handles lost baggage cases. If my bag had gone missing they would reimburse me $2800 with seemingly little hassle. I phoned the AA toll free number and got the same response, ‘NOT RESPONSIBLE’. My problem is, my bag arrived after being 'pilfered' and what was left in the bag is of basically no value.
I am in the process of understanding the maze of paperwork and how to file a complaint with AA, the TSA, and I am filing a police report in the city of Tucson. This is a THEFT, a CRIMINAL act.
The AA phone representatives have tried to explain that checked baggage ‘goes through a lot of hands’ and they cannot be responsible for items ‘pilfered’ (e.g. STOLEN). Aside from my current sorrow and headache, I want to make one other point.
If a baggage handler is able to pilfer/steal a large camera with a bag and is able to remove it undetected from the secure baggage handling area, how long before the same handler puts something INTO a bag? How long before the baggage handler, who is presumably STEALING for monetary gain, will accept a BRIBE and put something into a bag. Something like a bomb?
So the net time you are being frisked at the security checkpoints. Don’t feel safe, think about what is going on underneath you in the ‘authorized personnel only’ areas. Is someone ‘pilfering’ your bag, or maybe jeopardizing the safety of every person on board by exploiting an unacceptable internal baggage security system? If you work for an airline and/or have friends that fly on planes, are they safe? Does this flawed system make you happy?
Does the following questions you are repeatedly asked really mean you and your fellow passengers and crew are safe? “Has anyone unknown to you given you something that you are bringing aboard the aircraft? and Has your luggage been in your possession at all times since you packed it?”
MEANINGLESS questions.
Happy flying,
Robert (no camera) Cudmore
posted by Robert @ 11:42
38 comments
38 Comments:
As if it wasn't bad enough putting your fu*king shampoo into tiny little bottles.
Dude, I'd be so ripshit pissed about this on so many levels.
My heart goes out to you. I'm flying to TX next week. The Minolta is a carry-on for sure after hearing this.
You raise a lot of good points here. I always asked myself how easy it would be for an airport worker to put something into a bag which had already been checked. Now after reading your story I'm going to padlock all my checked bags from now on, but I suppose that would mean nothing if a bomb was placed in one of the dozens of bags on the plane which are not padlocked. How safe are we when we fly?
And it's not just bombs which worry me. Mechanics constantly perform routine maintenance on planes while they're grounded, often taking them out of service for a few hours if necessary but then rushing the work in order to get the plane back in the air again as quickly as possible. It only takes one mistake or worse still, one act of sabotage to bring a plane down.
**Just out of interest, because I've gone beta the system won't let me post a comment on a non-beta blog, hence the anonymous post. I came here via flickr and I'm also at www.heneganov.blogspot.com**
my digital camera,( $310.} dubble wraped way within my bag, probably only seen by x-ray was STOLEN from a flight from san jose to austin tx on dec 23rd.on AMERICAN AIRLINES so much for airport security, whos ??? we as passangers are sreened, stripped and treated like criminals, what about their employees? I'm getting the bums rush from them will try higher up.
Dear Mr. Cudmore,
I am a writer in Los Angeles preparing a story about baggage theft at airports. I have spoken with another source who very recently had his fiance's engagment ring stolen from the Tucson airport.
You're story raised some important issues and I wanted to ask if I may use a quote for inclusion in my piece. If you could please contact me at your earliest convenience it would be appreciated. I may be reached at this private email address. tf9006888@yahoo.com
My repeated attempts to have either the Tucson Airport Authority or TSA go on record have been unsuccessful. The fact that there is no video surveillance in the baggage handling areas is outrageous and I feel strongly that the public deserves to hear the reasoning.
Thanks very much in advance.
Hi Bob,
Was there any resolution to your situation? My camera was stolen out of my checked bag this weekend while flying on US Air. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
Eric
Yeah, was there any resolution? My digital and video camera along with ALL of our memories inside of those were stolen from our checked baggage from san juan puerto rico to newark nj yesterday (jan 21). It really sucks, but Continental said that they were not responsible, to file a claim and hope for the best. PRICKS!
Recent experiences with completely separate flight dates between Buffalo and Puerto Plata on Continental Airlines (Feb 2007).
Friends had costume jewelry removed from checked baggage on the way down. We packed in haste on return trip and mistakenly put drivers license in checked baggage... it was taken from checked baggage.
There is definitely a need for a change in airline/airport security with respect to baggage handling. There should be improved security in baggage handling areas and even screening employees when they leave the airport. They, or their unions will certainly complain about rights violations if this happens, but what about our rights as a traveler to the proper protection of us and our property. If airport employees can readily steal from baggage, they can just as easily use your baggage to transport items (e.g., drugs) for pick-up by a baggage handler at another airport. Oh, and if you get caught with your baggage "stuffed" by a handler... whose rights have been violated, and who will pay the price. Hmmm, I wonder?
I remember the days of random screening of passengers at the gate, well why not as a minimum the use of random screening of staff with baggage access when they leave work?
The flaws in airport baggage handling systems need some serious surgery! Other than "packing smart", passengers really don't have other options to transport important items they need in their travels. From what I understand there is no effective voice or agency to investigate and address what will likely be a growing problem.
Ditto. My brother bought me a brand new Leica for my wedding present (LAG-LAS-HNL-KOA) and somewhere in Vegas the bag was "lost" and when the luggage was found, the camera was gone (DELTA air). Locking it would have not helped since the TSA has special keys. And they would have claimed that we couldn't prove a camera was in the bag even if we could prove they opened the bag, could have been a box of cookies stolen...
It's bad and getting worse. Take a look - someone is trying to do something about it:
http://www.stolenfrombags.freeforums.org
Sorry to hear, but our $1800 laptop was nicely removed from our luggage leaving other things untouched due to my husband's smart decision to pack it in there. And to no one's surprise, the airport, airline and the TSA denied our claim and decided no one is responsible!
How far would they go to protect our belongings? Not far at all! I'm sure there was a camera around or another employee who witnessed the supposedly inspection of our luggage! Oh well, I guess we, the little people don't really matter. I'm not rich and I've just recently finished paying it off. :(
I had my cell phone stolen from my checked luggage while i was in transit in LAX. They not only started downloading costly internet files, that i had to pay cingular for, but also called a residential phone number registered to Ali Fawali in Inglewood CA. Can you believe the airline will do anything to just check if there employee has that phone number or cingular to stop downloads that i have never done before in my history of owning a cell phone? No one is interested in stopping these airline employee jerks even when you have a clear traceable phone number to use.
oh Ali's number is 310-677-1269 if everyone wants to phone in the middle of the night and pay him back for his mean spirited stealing at my expense.
While I don't like the security at the airport and feel that there are holes in it you have to remember people are in the system. You have to lock your doors at home. Lock your car and keep everything out of site. Lock your office or desk. That will keep 90 percent out but the other 10 percent will still try to get in. We got shows on TV of these stupid people. IF you want to keep it carry it on or leave it home. PS. Locking the suit case will defently get the locks broken and inspected. You will get a red notice in your bag stateing that TA has the right to inspect all bags. Yes even the locked ones.
GBS
On July 28th I was given a brand new 30 GB ipod video as a going away gift from my father. Before I could use it, it was stolen on July 29 at LAX while going to Japan. This system of baggage checking in SERIOUSLY FLAWED and needs revision.
Just returned from Seattle via Jet Blue. I won't even go into detail on the wretched treatment overall by the airline during the trip. But the final slap in the face was that our video camera and navigation system were stolen from our luggage, and of course, jet Blue is saying that they bear no responsibility. WOW. What a great job to have--handling luggage! It's a free for all! Take whatever you want. No one cares. No one even follows up. Do I feel safe or what?
Sames situation here... some US Airways or TSA handler decided to help themselves to my GPS system... I feel so violated someone opened my bag, went through my items and picked and chosed what they wanted... and there is no insurance coverage by AMEX, or US Airways. What a bunch of crock. Anyone try claims and were successful?
I traveled this past July 15th 2007 and had specially designed Eye Bolts stolen from my bag. I could not carry them on since the end of these were screw bolts with pointed end which could be used as a deadly weapon so I had to check them. I had 2 sets of 8 eye bolts wrap up in 2 different plastic bags. Yes Eye Bolts. I purchase these to put up 4 hand rails on my ceiling in my therapy office for Ashiatsu Massage. I had travel to Denver for training in this form of therapy and cost me $1500.00 plus the expense of equipment I would use later.
I filed a claim with proof of purchase, photo of them and TSA denied my claim stating I can file a suite against U.S. District Court no later than 6 months.
Please does anyone know how to do this? Yes... I want to follow through with this. We all need to step up and force the Airlines and TSA better security for our belongings from these thieves!
My email address is Valarie@oceanbreezetherapy.com if anyone has a solution or knows how to file a suit. I have looked on the Internet without any success.
Thank you for your time. And maybe all of us need to photograph our belongs as we check them in front of the attendent and have them sign a paper stating what we had in our checked bags!
I experienced something similiar over the 2007 Thanksgiving holiday season... and wouldn't you know it, you guessed it... I flew American Airlines.
My event started when I arrived at my local airport to fly to San Diego. I had my luggage locked and of course was told i'd have to unlock it for security checks if need be. Then after a lay over due to problems at DFW my son and I made our flight into DFW where we barely made our connection flight into CA. Upon landing several of us were notified our baggage did not make our connection flight with us and our luggage would be arriving several hours later on another flight. Later that evening an airline employee called and said out luggage had arrived and made plans to have it delivered to me. When it arriverd... I noticed too that my luggage looked ransacked, nothign was packed the way I had left it. My shampoo was squirted all over my toiletry bag... a pair of nike shox cross trainers were missing and a cell phone charger. Roughly $220 worht of stuff. After numerous calls to the SAN baggage claim, Customer Service and speaking with "supervisors" I was referred to read the Limits of Liabilites claim on my tickert jacket, and was given the response "we are not responsible for stolen or missing items". After another several weeks of talks with who ever would answer the phone... I was told "We do not cover claims under $200". So again the run around and a Fu*king without lube. It astonishes me how every industry in the nation is responsible for lost or stolen items... but yet these airlines or seeminly so (American Airlines) has no responsibility for peoples personal belongings. Here's a response I recieved from their Customer Relations:
[i]November 28, 2007 Dear Mr. Powell: We are as concerned as you are about the circumstances you described. Personnel inour Security Department use a program of surveillance and other means to preventproperty loss -- especially in this era of heightened security. Our statisticalmeasures reflect that our efforts are highly successful but I realize this is oflittle solace to you since you are reportedly missing some of your belongings. Our Manager of Central Baggage Service has the responsibility to review these kinds ofsituations and I've forwarded your email to her and asked that a member of the stafffollow-up directly with you. Once a review has been completed, they will correspondwith you by mail in about 10 - 12 weeks. Should you have any questions or informationabout your claim, you can contact that department by telephone or U.S. mail at theaddress below: Manager, Central Baggage ServiceAmerican AirlinesMD 1322, HDQPO Box 619613DFW Airport, TX 75261-9613Phone: (800) 866-4010Fax: (972) 425-0714 You will be contacted as soon as possible. In the meantime, we appreciate yourpatience. Sincerely, Kay FarmerCustomer RelationsAmerican Airlines[/i].
What takes 10-12 weeks to investigate a theft by an employee... like their going to find the person and return my overly worn and abused property. It makes me sick but what can the little guys like myself do to get some justice?
I just had a $400 digital camera (containing irreplaceable photos for my dissertation research) stolen out of my CARRY-ON BAG that I was forced to gate-check in Newark on the way to Greenville, SC. When I arrived home and opened the bag I saw that my camera was gone. I called Continental Airlines and they kept parroting the same line "we do not cover electronic items." They told me if it were clothing that was stolen, maybe they would cover it! Well clothing isn't what's valuable! They simply do not care if people are stealing. It is a free for all if you want to steal electronic items, the most expensive things in a person's luggage. Unbelievable.
I left my purse on an American Airlines flight after returning home to DFW from Christmas in Newark, NJ. The purse contained all of my jewelry valued at approx. $12k. This purse was originally in my carry on luggage, but I was forced to check the bag at the gate due to the volume of travelers. I removed the purse (and jewelry) from the luggage so it wouldn't be stolen. I was in the emergency exit row and the stewardess shoved all my carry on bags way under the seat in front of me to clear the area. After the flight, the purse was so far under that I didn't see it. Long story short, I called lost and found in Newark and DFW until I was blue in the face; the DFW police wouldn't let me file a report for 72 hours. Once I filed a report, I was told that the chances of finding my jewelry were slim because it happened so many days ago. My daughter also left an expensive coat in the overhead bin when she traveled from Newark to DFW for Thanksgiving. It was never recovered.
I think I should apply for a job on the cleaning crew. They are not held accountable, and the job obviously has some good benefits!
Hey, everyone's stories sound like mine! I just got burnt by the camera theif as well. I was visiting my boyfriend in Boston and got a notification that my flight was leaving at 3:40 instead of 5:25. It was 2:20 and I was 20 miles outside of Boston. I rushed to the airport only to find that my plane was still leaving at orginially planned. My bag was checked and I made my way to the security area. While removing my carry-on items for inspection, I realized that my digital camera I just got for Christmas was in my checked bag. I continued with my flight only to arrive in Little Rock and find that my luggage was apparantly stuck at DFW. It arrived the next night outside in the rain. The neck strap, and zipper were completely missing, and the bag was ripped all the way across and down one side (it looked like someone used a box cutter). I reported the damage, and of course was told "not my problem". I bought a new camera to keep my father from fliping out, but I don't plan on flying AA ever again. That was the third time I have flown with them in 10 months, and if that is the way they want to treat repeat customers, they can sure afford to loose me!
I TOO HAD A SMALL KODACK DIGITAL CAMERA STOLEN FROM MY LUGGAE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PUERTO RICO AND NEWARK. I ALSO NOTICED A LARGE SELECTION OF LIQUID FILLED CONTAINERS FOR SALE BEYOND THE TSA SECURITY POINT, WHAT IS TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM USING THEM, OR ANY SEALED CONTAINER SOLD THERE, FOR HIS OWN PURPOSE. THE TSA AND THE "SECURE BAGGAGE AREA" ARE NO BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO STAFF THEM.
So what was the resolution? Someone stole my $1200 camera on a DELTA flight from Memphis to Atlanta last week. I NEVER check it, but was told as I was about to get on the plane, that I had to store my bag as it wouldn't fit in the tiny overhead bin of the commuter plane. When I arrived in Atlanta, I got the bag back, but the camera was taken from the top. Trying to untangle who I could talk to, DELTA emailed and said "I hope you understand" that they are not responsible. What can a person do? Did you ever find out?
What can you do?
(1) Short answer ... NOTHING.
(2) Long answer ... file a police report for stolen goods, Take them to court over stolen items. Phone your media agencies and try to get them to take notice.
(3) Or ... as one of the airport employees suggested I do, next time you fly get maxed out insurance and then LIE and say you had all sorts of stuff stolen, preferably tell them you checked two bags and one is missing.
This is horrible. I recently had my brand new 8 megapixel digital camera containing a brand new 2GB SD card in a new case stolen from me right off of the table. The waiter had to either of grabbed it or knocked it off the table. Anyhow, I went there the very next morning, they would not let me look around, and they said it wasn't turned in. They said the cleaning crew would have turned it in. I called several times describing our waiter to question him, but they would never allow me to speak to him nor did they interrogate any of their employees. The police said I had to report it lost, not stolen. I can't even imagine how I'd felt if it were $1000.00
Same Story: American Airlines from Miami to Minneapolis Non Stop flight. I had the bag in my possession the whole time till I had it over to the security personal to check in. Upon arrival in Minneapolis. My $1000 camera that included all the trips pictures and etc was missing. Instead in the camera bag i found empty toilet paper roll!!!! I called AA, they told me same thing that they do not cover electronic items. I called TSA they forwarded me to the claims form and said I should hear something back within 90days- 6 months. I called mia airport police, they told me that from the last 500 reports they have filed for similar incident not one have been found. How can this be?
There are camera's everywhere. Every scan gets recorded. every step along the way gets recorded so how can things go missing? Worst yet how come no one is takes responsibility. AA points finger at TSA or Security. TSA points finger at AA. Police points finger at AA and TSA.
I wonder if they can take things out worry free, how difficult would be for them to add things on! such as drugs shipping from state to state or country to country where one would place them in a certain bag before placing it in the airline and at the departure city they take the drugs out before forwarding the bag to baggage claim.
Or worse yet steal everything in the bag, fill it will any illegal items and have the whole bag picked up at the departure city making the bag missing. What else could be the logical explanation of items/bags go missing on nonstop flights?
And if thats the case how safe is our luggage and more importantly how are we?
I am deeply hurt by the run around especially since I am the random inspection all the time and I never beep. My parents are from India and with the skin color i have i always wear a t-shirt short and flip flops. and a passport and boarding pass. I never refuse of inspection because I want to be safe even. I rather have them inspect than us having another tragedy.
but this seems like the innocent people are the ones that are paying the price while the criminals have so many ways to exploit the system.
I am planning to involve my senator, press, media and still looking for AA's corporate number. Unfortunately when you call AA regarding any lost electronics or valuable they will only direct you to their website where you can see that they don't cover it. And if it comes to it I am willing to sue AA to get their attention! I am tired of hearing that "This is policy" What does that mean??? This is Ridicules can you imagine how many people just forget about their loss because it might be more than couple hundred dollars or they don't know where to go! Meanwhile the workers are pulling in six figure income from stealing a item or two a night from thousands and thousands of bags they touch each day!
I can be contacted at asharma.lending@gmail.com Let figure out if there is something we can do together
Hi, I recently flew with continental airlines, and had my mobile phone, which had expensive screen reading sofware for the blind on it, stolen from the plane by a cleaning crew member. I realized ten minutes after i got off of the air craft that it was missing, and went back to retrieve it, and was told that it wasn't on the plane and that I had lost it else where, and there was nothing they could do! When i arived home, I immediately had my account suspended, but a day later, I check on getting another phone, and reported the incident to my mobile carier again, and in this case, luckily they mistakenly left my account active instead of shutting it back off. While it was turned back on, the phone was used by this said person, incurring charges of 263 dollars. After this, I filed a police report, and he was caught, and the phone which was of 850 dollar value, is being returned to me, but dammaged. I'm in the process of filing another complaint with continental airlines, since i've had a month of stress, agrivation, and had to pay out money for a new phone! I'm hoping for compensation, and/or some sort of refund for my ticket, due to the incident, and the stress that I incurred as a result of this whole mess. I will also mention that it was an international flight, and this is a breach of security, since all items on an international plane must pass through customs before they are allowed out of the airport. What if I weren't an innocent person and my phone had a bomb in it that was remote activated? That could have put the airlines in danger all because of this person's greed! Odviously it wasn't, but what if it happened again, and this time it was? This is rediculace! What can be done about this? It sure makes me not want to fly again! I'm very upset, and hope that I can see justice done, and be fairly compensated.
Brand new camera -- never opened or used -- packed in my checked luggage on an American Airline flight Laguardia-Miami-Guatemala (would have never packed it checked luggage, but since it was still in the box it was too big to carry on). Arrived: camera and memory card missing. Everything else in place. Seriously crooked.
Missing custome jewelry from American Airlines flight 5027/239 Antigua- San Juan - Los Angeles 23 August
I wore the pieces for years and then poof - It was the only thing missing from checked in bag. Probably not worth more than $250 but they were all nice, special pieces. AA will not take any responsibility. NOTHING can be done and I guess the only solution is to assume that anything can be taken at any time and you will not be able to do anything about it.
I flew Sun Country to Orlando from Minneapolis for our honeymoon this September. Both of our digital cameras were stolen out of our luggage as well as a cd case with 25 dvds and a bag of Starburst! Enjoy! I hope your happiness is more important than our honeymoon. One question: Why didn't you take the bag of Twizzlers instead of the Starburst?
(SO MAD!!!)
It's an airport! There should be hundreds if not thousand of security cameras anywhere. Who needs cameras when they can just play the blame game. "It's Disney's fault. No it's Sun Country's. Wait, maybe it's TSA's fault." End up with a blame triangle so you can't pin it on anyone.
US Airways sucks! They might be cheap... but this doesn't count if you pay it through your stolen camcorder with all pictures on it. 1200$ of loss just because airport employees can take away what they want for free. You have to pass a thousand cameras and wait for 1,5 hours on the immigration just because bureaucracy does its work, even if it is only the connecting airport in philadelphia which is located in the US on your international flight from Europe to Canada.
It does seem a bit strange to me that all these stories about stolen items does only occur on cheap US airlines but not on higher price european or canadian airlines like Lufthansa, Air France or Air Canada. Perhaps they check their crew members better or their airport staff!!! Perhaps it is worth to pay the difference in the price, as the fact counts that some of these Airlines include an insurance for such events in their fees...
Anyway for me it is definitiv: I WILL NEVER BOOK ON US AIRWAYS AGAIN!!!!!!!
WOW, so many ppl with similar experience. I JUST arrived in Alabama after a grueling flight from sfo->LV->atlanta->alabama. Shittiest thing is i switched from US Airways to Delta for the last 2 flights , so i dont even KNOW how to blame to (both shitty airlines)
but my NEW 8megapixel camera and 2g memroy card was missing in my checked-in bag. Looking from ur guys rsponse, looks like im not getting anything back anytime soon P:(
My daughter just had items stolen in Atlanta on a Delta flight. She realized that she had left a carryon bag five minutes after leaving the flight. She asked the gate agent if she could check to see if the bag was on the plane. She acted rudely, but finally had another gate agent take my daughter back on the flight. The cleaning crew were very rude saying "we don't have your bag girl". My daughter looked in all the overhead compartments and under all the seats and didn't find it. She became upset and started crying and walked back out the jetway. Then miraculously the gate agent came out and said they had "found" the bag. (My daughter assured me that she had thoroughly looked on the plane, so apparently the cleaning crew had it hidden from her view while she looked for it. However, when she looked in the bag, all of the Coach items and GAP items had been removed by the cleaning crews. She tried to complain to the gate agent and she wouldn't do anything. She said "you probably cant do anything since you have to go catch your connecting flight." So basically, they said SCREW YOU! My family will NEVER, NEVER fly on Delta again.
Lots of interesting points here. Just 2 days ago, I was forced to give up my carry-on baggage for gate claim on Continental Airlines flight 2115 flying into IAH. My prescription sunglasses were pulled out of their case and STOLEN. I called Continental and they won't do ANYTHING. They couldn't care less about it. I agree with what other people have posted here, if "authorized personnel" are taking stuff out of our bags they could easily be putting stuff into aour bags too!!
It does happen at expensive European Airlines. I flew with Air France. My luggage was broken in to. My camere, some 700 Euro thing, was stolen from my luggage. I bet they use the scanning equipment to check luggage out for valuables, at least they have decided it was worth to cut off my pad-locks. Putain-merde! They are not paying the damage. A woman on the phone told me that they'll pay, so I sended the original bill and flight tickets to France. I got back a letter that they will not pay and that they hope I'll fly Air France again. Hell, I don't think so....
Post the stolen camera on http://www.stolen-property.com/
It's free. I used it to report a stolen ipod not a stolen camera, but you can report any kind of theft with a brand, model and photos. All you really need though is the stolen property serial number.
I used it to register all my camera equipment. I didn't have to report it stolen, it operates like a remote digital archive for insurance, selling equipment, etc.. I can check a box if GOD FORBID my camera equipment is stolen and I need to report it worldwide.
Thought I'd share.
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
We had a $1000 Nikon Camera stolen on the Continental Airlines flight from Houston to San Juan Puerto Rico on Feb 12. It was in our carry on bag but there was no room on the Puerto Rico leg so they took it just before we entered the plane. We caught it as it came off the ramp. Have filed an email report and will call. Will keep posted on our progress with Continental Airlines (UAL).
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