Airport "insecurities"

[bigpappa]

Great article on travel blog about sticky fingers in the airport.

http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/ro...rport/#more-269

[londonthai]

a few years ago my money sack (mostly with coins) fall off my jacket pocket into the tray - on picking up my belongings I failed to spot it because it was small and black, as the tray. I came back within 20 seconds to the pretty empty gate and first the security pretended not to understand me and later started to ask some questions. I did my money sack back, but had a feeling that they did want to steel it. I happened in the CDG airport in Paris.

money belts are an obvious target to every opportunist - the best not to wear them and spread the money in all pockets. If you have one - put inside your jacket or rucksack at the security

[PadThaiGuy]

Magnetometer heist.

One employee causes a diversion and the others pilfer your stuff.

Must be a prized position for the security team.

Suprised they got them on video. The thieves are security personel and know the gaps in video coverage.

These are the very same people trusted to keep terrorists off the plane.

For a small fee, they would probably let you take a gun onboard.

Been happening since the Airport opened.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...hl=magnetometer

Also, a gang of luggage thieves (employees) were busted out there a while ago.

[Tinkelbell]

You also have to keep your eyes on the passenger behind you.

That what happened to me at the L.A. airport. Going through the security x-ray, I was placing my stuffs: handbag, hat, shoes, my blazer (with my lovely brooch on it) all on the tray, after passing through, I collected all my belongings. Walked a few steps away to put on my blazer, that when I found out I lost my brooch, so I swiftly turned back to check at conveyed belt, my tray was still there. And this Asian couple were collecting their belongings.

From their looks (especially the husband), I felt they knew something. Sure enough, the wife was holding something in her palm, I went with my gut, asking her directly..." Have you seen my brooch? She handed it to me saying..."Is this yours?"

I could tell she was deeply embarrassed because I caught her red-handed.

[lomatopo]

There are a few simple basic rules to follow:

1.) Do everything possible to avoid a secondary screening; this means do not set off the metal detector. Short of removing metal plates/pacemaker surgically implanted in your body, remove everything metal (glasses, watch, wallet, pen, rings, jewelry, coins, phone, belt, shoes, earrings, piercings well before the security area and stow in a zippered carry-on bag, shoes go in a plastic carrier to go through the X-ray machine.

2.) Store valuables in a zippered, carry-on bag.

3.) Put the most valuable item on the conveyor belt last and make sure it is going through the machine. I usually go: Shoes, roll-a-board, zippered carry-on, PC.

4.) Step through the metal detector quickly and confidently; in the U.S.A. you need to show your boarding card when going through the metal detector so have it in your hands. I hold it with both hands, chest-high.

5.) Keep a close eye on the items coming out of the X-ray machine, make eye contact with anyone standing near the X-ray machine, excluding the operator.

6.) Even if you are asked for secondary (wand), regardless of whether you triggered the metal detector, gather up your zippered carry-on first, then get the wand.

7.) Step aside, re-assemble everything, double-check valuables.

[jackspratt]

......... so I swiftly turned back to check at conveyed belt, my tray was still there. And this Asian couple were collecting their belongings.

Is there some special significance in the fact they were Asian?

[Tinkelbell]

......... so I swiftly turned back to check at conveyed belt, my tray was still there. And this Asian couple were collecting their belongings.

Is there some special significance in the fact they were Asian?

Absolutely not, I'm also a Thai.

It was their guilty look that caught my attention. May be from the feeling that she was hiding a piece of fine jewelry ( costed me slightly under $100 ) instead of calling me and give back to the rightful owner as any good smaritan. Don't forget this couple were queueing right behind me.

[Tony Clifton]

Great article on travel blog about sticky fingers in the airport.

http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/ro...rport/#more-269

I see they did the old let's kill time until their plane takes off and never see them again routine when all is needed is 10 minutes and a strip down for an inspection by their supervisors along with an inspection of the spot where they pulled the crime. Try pulling that sh!t in a reputable airport or casino as an employee.

Unforgettable Thailand.

[dobieg]

Update on the sticky fingers story at Bangkok airport. Latest developments include reimbursement by mysterious wire transfer (even though "investigations" continue):

http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/ro...abhumi-airport/

[Briggsy]

I use the airport often. Thank you for alerting me to this thieving. I'm pretty careful but I'll take extra caution about money belts and x-ray machines.

[astral]

I hate the European airports where they demand you empty all pockets.

Wallets, passports and tickets then become easy prey.

[chiangmaibruce]

Contact details: An alternative place to report thefts and request some action to stop this ongoing problem of theft at the airport

TOURIST ASSISTANCE CENTER HOTLINE

Please call 1155 or (0) 2134 4079

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.touristassistancecenter.go.th

... as provided to me today by

International Public Relations Division

Tourism Authority of Thailand

[Krub]

I hate the European airports where they demand you empty all pockets.

Wallets, passports and tickets then become easy prey.

I always go through empty pockets and no jewelry except for passport and boarding pass

The rest goes into my carry on which is zipped locked before it goes through the x-ray in ANY airport

[PadThaiGuy]

"TOURIST ASSISTANCE CENTER HOTLINE

Please call 1155 or (0) 2134 4079

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.touristassistancecenter.go.th

... as provided to me today by

International Public Relations Division

Tourism Authority of Thailand '

The TAC is worthess.... but don't take my word. Call or send them an email and let us know the response.

My guess.. they won't respond.

If there is some crime against visitors... they want a piece of it. They don't care about foreigners.

I informed the TAT / TAC of a group of 20-30 full time, Thai Con Artists working outside the Erawan Shrine.

Sent them a dozen letters with photos etc., since June 2007.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/

Yes, 9 months later, they are still there, cheating visitors all day, EVERY DAY!

Look at the photos.... they look like off duty Tourist Police to me.

[junkofdavid2]

"TOURIST ASSISTANCE CENTER HOTLINE

Please call 1155 or (0) 2134 4079

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.touristassistancecenter.go.th

... as provided to me today by

International Public Relations Division

Tourism Authority of Thailand '

The TAC is worthess.... but don't take my word. Call or send them an email and let us know the response.

My guess.. they won't respond.

If there is some crime against visitors... they want a piece of it. They don't care about foreigners.

I informed the TAT / TAC of a group of 20-30 full time, Thai Con Artists working outside the Erawan Shrine.

Sent them a dozen letters with photos etc., since June 2007.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/

Yes, 9 months later, they are still there, cheating visitors all day, EVERY DAY!

Look at the photos.... they look like off duty Tourist Police to me.

Very interesting.

Maybe you can find someone in Bangkok Post or Nation or Daily Express who would be interested in using this as a story?

Daily Express seems to be 'hungry' for interesting content... mostly just has boring press releases.

[PattayaParent]

I saw the guy in the 2nd and 3rd pictures on the second page of your website there last 3 days ago (Sunday).

[bendix]

"TOURIST ASSISTANCE CENTER HOTLINE

Please call 1155 or (0) 2134 4079

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.touristassistancecenter.go.th

... as provided to me today by

International Public Relations Division

Tourism Authority of Thailand '

The TAC is worthess.... but don't take my word. Call or send them an email and let us know the response.

My guess.. they won't respond.

If there is some crime against visitors... they want a piece of it. They don't care about foreigners.

I informed the TAT / TAC of a group of 20-30 full time, Thai Con Artists working outside the Erawan Shrine.

Sent them a dozen letters with photos etc., since June 2007.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/

Yes, 9 months later, they are still there, cheating visitors all day, EVERY DAY!

Look at the photos.... they look like off duty Tourist Police to me.

Very interesting.

Maybe you can find someone in Bangkok Post or Nation or Daily Express who would be interested in using this as a story?

Daily Express seems to be 'hungry' for interesting content... mostly just has boring press releases.

He did. A few Sundays ago. He is a man with a mission, for sure, and we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for helping the stupid save themselves from their stupidity.

[BigSnake]

Yeah, folks keep an eye on your stuff.

[bendix]

So .. to sum up.

In a situation where you have valuable items which are temporarily removed from you, be careful.

Wow .. . .why the hel_l didnt I think of that?

What next? A reminder to breathe every few seconds in case we can't work it out for ourselves?

[PadThaiGuy]

Be carefull... that's naive, no?

What about those travelers that save for a lifetime for a trip, deficient in 'your' worldly wisdom.

Most people just don't imagine a modern airport where the management is involved with scamming visitors...or an entire culture that turns a blind eye to the systematic scamming of visitors?

How can one be 'carefull' if the AOT allows a pilfering gang to work over the luggage in the back room?... if the AOT is involved with the ground transport scam?......if the security team knows the gaps in video coverage and steals items going thru the magnatometer?

...if the TAT & Police let gangs of organized scammers lurk and scam visitors at major tourist sites?..or the TAT and Police are actually involved in the scams?

[bendix]

Oh pulllease . . . this is not a Thailand only issue. Neither is it a third world or Asian issue. Just last year the news was full of stories of numerous baggage handlers being arrested at Sydney airport for pilfering passengers belongings. It happens all over the world.

We are in a third world, low cost country. Such things are to be expected. Not tolerated nor applauded, but expected as part of the normal run of things. People should understand that that is what it is like when they decide to visit not just Thailand, but anywhere where things might be a little different from their home at 42 Acacia Lane, Dulwich.

What do you want to do to these poor unsuspecting tourists and travellers? Wrap them in cotton wool?

[Captain Chaos]

Have to admit I bury all my valuables in my carry on bag, preferably in an internal pocket - and zip everything up - so it should be too much of a faff about for someone to grab something out of there in a hurry. Wallet, phone, watch - nothing goes loose in the tray except the laptop which of course has to be screened separately.

But I do this at every airport I pass through - even Changi - to me it just seems like common sense to do this...

CC