Protect Valuables At Airport Security: TSA Theft?!

How to prevent being robbed where you least expect it.

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[tracyblack]

I would never have thought someone would do this, I will be more careful from now on. Thanks for the heads up

[joychampagnie]

Happened to me in Orlando. Used two trays one had my carry-on and shoes, the other my hand bag. While waiting to collect, I got the one with the carry on and shoes but not the one with my handbag. I spun around and found they had put the other tray on another track and I just was just in time to catch a female TSA agent unzipping my handbag I shouted at her and she sheepishly rezipped my bag. I am so sorry I did not report her. I was lucky that day nothing was taken but I will be very cautious in future,

[mary-ruthflores]

A TSA agent once told me to put my wallet, watch small valuables in a ziplock plastic bag and it goes at the bottom of my purse which is in my bag. That means it will take too long to steal from it on the line. And the zippers are safety pinned closed. Anything to make it harder to undo

[robertandleonaburnsroberta]

Thanks so much for the great advice. By the way, my wallet was stolen at LAX years ago. I was traveling alone and on business and was frantic because everything valuable was in my wallet. The end of my story is that the TSA agents were working as a team. What they did was block me physically… from going through the scanner, so my purse and bin went forward ahead of me. As hard as I tried, I could not catch up and by the time I got to the other side, my purse was gone. I had nothing. A stewardess on the plane was kind enough to let me borrow her cell phone to call my family. My valuables were gone gone.

[diannewi]

Good advice. I go a step further. I stop long before getting in line, at a chair or similar. I make sure everything is inside my carryon or personal item AND I LOCK the zippers. I don't know why everyone doesn't do this. I get remarked on sometimes. Last week a guy looked at my multiple locks and said, "Wow, Fort Knox." I said, "You're right." 

Men should take off metallic belts, phone, wallet, etc. and LOCK them inside backpack or personal item. There's plenty of opportunity to put them back on, after the security process.

[JosephMcGinley-neni]

For valuables like wallet, passport, watch, mobile phone, I use the following item. Heavy duty A4 zipper bag, which I do some modifications.

Modifications, include, punching a hole at where the zip locks the bag, get some steel punch rings, and put them in place. use security wire, and thread the wire through the punch how, and zipper hole, and then finally lock bag with a pad lock.

So all the items above can be seen by the security officer, but no one can open the zipper bag, additional measure to make sure no passenger walks away with zipper bag. Secure second security wire to my brightly colored bag, and then I watch the bag

[Peizxcv]

TSA employees and the word “bright” have never been used in the same sentence before

[preparados]

I had a TSA agent in Texas steal from my personal item. He supposedly had to inspect it by hand and took it to another area I could not see easily. When I tried to stretch my neck to see what he was doing, his female TSA accomplice did no allow me to look at what he was doing. She ordered for me to look ahead.

[mikolots]

I heard that guy only got like 6 months in jail. Without the threat of a long-term prison (not jail) sentence, people will continue to keep doing it. The reward is far greater than the risk.

[absfinal]

Always check if all your valuables are there after the check. I have always a bad feeling when I have to put my valuables in the tray

[ChristopherChin]

Good stuff.

I go through airport security almost every work day (sad, ... I know). ...Canadian, US, Central and South America. All my stuff, phone, wallet, passport, boarding pass .. gets LOCKED into my work case. Also have kevlar safety boots (no metal) and all plastic buckle belt (and TSApre/Nexus/Global Entry ... so that helps)

My carry-on is also locked ... both with quality MasterLock paddle locks.
1 out of 10 times, they want a look inside after the x-ray, so they wait while I unlock it.
No problems at all, not even in Bogotà.

My work case is a Pelican 1500 (personal Item) and my carry on is a Pelican 1510 or Nanuk 935.
No zippers, no "TSA approved" locks.
Safe Travels!!!

[DovidM]

My experience: I reported the theft of money from my wallet to TSA. I received “additional screening” for every flight I took for the next two years.

[colleenmarin]

I put all those types of things into the zippered pockets of my jacket, and then zip the jacket into my packable backpack (that doubles as my day pack). Once everything has passed through the scanners, I can quickly put my tablet, laptop and liquids bag into the day pack, grab all 3 bags, and not hold up the line

[vickilindberg]

It all goes down the drain when TSA decides you're public enemy #1 & you end up being pulled aside 20+ feet from your stuff for at least ten minutes. I lost favorite jewelry pieces.

[michaelfinley]

This why I take my cash out of my wallet put it in my hand announce when walking through XRay "I have Cash in my Hand". They will usually question me why and pat me down. I tell them my cash stays with me at all times. TSA wants to trip you up. Last time in IAD I was belittled for protecting my possessions and treated as a potential threat.

[tangosierra]

Interestingly, I just started exactly what you suggested this year. Thanks for all your tips
Massive Ziploc bags are the best!

One for batteries/cables - I place this whole bag bag under my jacket in one tray. TSA often like to check batteries, so it is easier to have it outside your bag from the beginning. No one has ever checked my carry-on bag since.

One ziploc for valuables/money/watch/jewelry & phone, which I remove while in the security queue.
I place this bag❤ in a zippable compartment inside my carry-on bag.

Plus one ziploc for liquids.

If you want to make it really had, place the valuables in a velcro bag which makes a lot of noise on opening. Trade-off: Usually, they are not transparent.


Lastly, being organised makes it some much better for everyone around you, as it cuts unpacking time from 2 mins to 15 secs.
All these things mean it takes too long for anyone to open.

Last thing, I carry a few TSA PADLOCKS. If you put that on your bags, they can still check it in security, but in your presence.

[TheSimmpleTruth]

It’s not surprising people don’t know because most people have never travelled by plane or have travelled very little. Rules change all the time and most people don’t know that.

[bcs]

The only time I was ever robbed during my travels was during security screening. I had an umbrella stored in a hard box in the outside pocket of my bag. I noticed it was missing literally when I was putting my shoes on. It was gone. The thief must’ve thought it was a valuable camera or something. 😢

[karendavis]

Good and timely advice - thank you! We will be modifying our approach to airport security in future.

[brentsummers]

Very good advice. Having a backpack with multiple pockets is a good idea. I've just decided to take my larger backpack for this reason.