How are thieves stealing luggage at US airports..?

hollydolly

hollydolly

SF VIP
Location
London England
I've been seeing a few reports about this in the US, and from what I can see..it looks like members of the public are able to just enter the baggage claim area of airports in the USA, and steal from the conveyor belts...


This can't happen in the Europe and the UK from random thieves .. because our Baggage claim belts are all flight side... no-one from outside can enter the area at arrivals..only passengers from the relevant planes ...who collect their luggage and then go through the double security door to the area where members of the public are awaiting their arrival

Surely airports in the USA must realise that they cannot allow joe public to just wander into Baggage reclaim :unsure:
 

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hollydolly said:
I've been seeing a few reports about this in the US, and from what I can see..it looks like members of the public are able to just enter the bagage claim area of airports in the USA, and steal from the conveyor belts...


This can't happen in the Europe and the UK from random thieves .. because our Baggage claim belts are all flight side... no-one from outside can enter the area at arrivals..only passengers from the relevant planes ...who collect their luggage and then go through the double security door to the area where members of the public are awaiting their arrival

Surely airports in the USA must realise that they cannot allow joe public to just wander into Baggage reclaim :unsure:
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We had high profile case of that recently.

Nonbinary Biden nuclear official charged with stealing woman's luggage at airport
 
The way ours is set up it would be very easy to pick up a bag and go. Security cameras would likely get you but that doesn't help when you're at your destination with no luggage.
 

hollydolly said:
I've been seeing a few reports about this in the US, and from what I can see..it looks like members of the public are able to just enter the baggage claim area of airports in the USA, and steal from the conveyor belts...


This can't happen in the Europe and the UK from random thieves .. because our Baggage claim belts are all flight side... no-one from outside can enter the area at arrivals..only passengers from the relevant planes ...who collect their luggage and then go through the double security door to the area where members of the public are awaiting their arrival

Surely airports in the USA must realise that they cannot allow joe public to just wander into Baggage reclaim :unsure:
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It's been this way here for years. Until it becomes an issue I doubt they'll change it here.
 
Would like to see that change here in the USA with public isolation. Always bothered me picking up baggage from the usual conveyor belts because at ground floors baggage is dealt with usually right at convenient street levels, one can just pick up any baggage and walk away without anyone checking.

Only reason there is not more thefts is because all such areas are on security cameras so thieves would not be able to easily steal multiple times and in any case, most people flying tend to carry-on important items like cash, jewelry, smartphones, and laptops.
 
David777 said:
Would like to see that change here in the USA with public isolation. Always bothered me picking up baggage from the usual conveyor belts because at ground floors baggage is dealt with usually right at convenient street levels, one can just pick up any baggage and walk away without anyone checking.

Only reason there is not more thefts is because all such areas are on security cameras so thieves would not be able to easily steal multiple times and in any case, most people flying tend to carry-on important items like cash, jewelry, smartphones, and laptops.
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it's just shocking to me that the USA airport authorities allow the baggage to be in a public area..(non passenger) and are very aware of thefts because it's so easy for people to just walk in and access anyone's luggage.
 
hollydolly said:
you don't think theft of luggage might be an issue ?:unsure:
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that's not what i said. i said until it becomes an issue. in the US it has to get bad before anything gets done about stuff and sometimes not even then. i do think theft is an issue. but many of the companies in these parts don't wanna spend money on anything let alone do anything to help customers. it's all about the jingle in their pocketbooks. :)
 
Years ago, when we went to Vegas we used to have a luggage tag and the corresponding other half on our airline ticket. Before you could leave that area you had to display both. Then that disappeared.

In some airports non-passengers aren’t supposed to enter the luggage area. It’s easy for an experienced crook to just slip in.
 
Haven't been on an airplane since 2017. Swore I'd never get on another one. So far, I'm good.

So, someone stealing my luggage full of dirty clothes is just not an issue...
 
Jules said:
Years ago, when we went to Vegas we used to have a luggage tag and the corresponding other half on our airline ticket. Before you could leave that area you had to display both. Then that disappeared.

In some airports non-passengers aren’t supposed to enter the luggage area. It’s easy for an experienced crook to just slip in.
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whereas in the UK and Europe you have to have your boarding pass to be in Baggage reclaim..... because it's flight-side
 
Jules said:
Years ago, when we went to Vegas we used to have a luggage tag and the corresponding other half on our airline ticket. Before you could leave that area you had to display both. Then that disappeared.

In some airports non-passengers aren’t supposed to enter the luggage area. It’s easy for an experienced crook to just slip in.
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I remember that about Vegas! It was the only place I remember doing that.

I'm just surprised that MORE bags aren't stolen. Everyone's crowded around the belt that often consists or 2 or 3 sections and what goes by is black case, black case, black case, blue case, black case, black case...... it would be easy as pie to make off with a black case.

My suitcase is a blinding neon blue that hurts the eyes to look at. It's so ugly NOBODY is going to steal it. In fact, the baggage people positively beg me to get it out of sight. It would be like trying to sneak a strobe light through a darkened theater. I paid very little for it, but in the maybe 15 years I've had it, it won't wear out, the wheels won't break and the zippers won't bust. As frugal as I am.....OK, cheap......I'm considering being cremated in it.
 
Holly here in USA MarciKS is correct, companies here are not going to spend more money to ensure a persons luggage is not stolen.I see your point and it is a valid one, I totally agree but a public baggage area is the way it is and always has been to my knowledge, Any person off the street has access to the luggage and I am going to assume the airports know it.

Myself and a friend flew into Sacramento Ca many years ago and we got to the baggage area before the luggage did for that very reason. I knew any person could walk right up and take our luggage and I had never flown before in my life.
 
perplexed said:
Holly here in USA MarciKS is correct, companies here are not going to spend more money to ensure a persons luggage is not stolen.I see your point and it is a valid one, I totally agree but a public baggage area is the way it is and always has been to my knowledge, Any person off the street has access to the luggage and I am going to assume the airports know it.

Myself and a friend flew into Sacramento Ca many years ago and we got to the baggage area before the luggage did for that very reason. I knew any person could walk right up and take our luggage and I had never flown before in my life.
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I would be panic stricken if I knew people could just wander in off the street and help themselves to my luggage before I had time to get to the Baggage reclaim area first.

People carry thousands of pounds in technical equipment with them when they fly as well as jewellery etc.. not everyone is on a week's holiday taking swimwear and sandals..
 
JeeperDon said:
At every US airport I've been to in a lot of years, the walk from the plane to baggage claim takes less time than for the first luggage from the plane to come out of the conveyor.
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Same but agree with @againstthegrain that Air tags or Tile trackers are still a great idea in case luggage is lost. I love Tile's ...use them for keys, wallet, have the slim one stuck to my kindle cover.
 
hollydolly said:
I would be panic stricken if I knew people could just wander in off the street and help themselves to my luggage before I had time to get to the Baggage reclaim area first.

People carry thousands of pounds in technical equipment with them when they fly as well as jewellery etc.. not everyone is on a week's holiday taking swimwear and sandals..
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Especially since they tell you "don't put your valuables, jewelry, money, medicines, car keys in checked luggage" but when you get to the plane door it's "Sorry, no more room for carry-ons! Hand it over....we're checking it for you."

It's not likely they're going to let you, in the jetway, unpack your carryon and redistribe all your valuables in your pockets.

So, now your valuables are heading for baggage claim and you hope you get there first.
 
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