How to Avoid Bag Thieves at the Airport

November 5, 2009 | Posted in: Ask Rick,News,Security

When was the last time an airport or airline employee looked at your bag’s claim check – to be sure you were walking out the door with your own luggage?

It’s probably been years – and that’s because, most airlines found they had higher priorities after the 9/11 attacks. As a result, thieves may have it a little easier.

Case in point — this report out of Phoenix: cops arrested a man and a woman who they allege would go to various baggage carousels at Sky Harbor airport, pick up someone’s suitcase, and head on home. Apparently they’d repeat this action, again and again and again.

The cops found hundreds of bags at the suspects’ home, opened and ransacked — and without identifying tags. They’re still counting them.

UPDATE: The Arizona Republic reports the pair held a lot of yard sales.

My advice:

1.) Leave valuables at home; 2.) if you must take valuables, put them in a carryon; 3.) if you must check a bag, be alert in the airport – watch the carousel and the exits! 4.) Decorate your bag in an eye-catching manner, to make it easier to notice if someone tries to walk off with it.

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6 Responses to “How to Avoid Bag Thieves at the Airport”

1. S. Sheldon says:

   November 6, 2009 at 3:58 pm

   I purchased 2 expensive watches on a recent trip and put them in my carryon with the rest of my valuables. However, I packed the fancy boxes they came in, in my suitcase. Our flight was delayed and we had to pick up our luggage at Delta baggage claim. When I got home I discovered the watch boxes were gone – some airport employee got two empty boxes and I lost the warranties !
2. Rick Seaney says:

   November 6, 2009 at 4:17 pm

   S. Sheldon,
   Sorry about the warranties, but at least you were smart enough to pack the watches in your carryon.
   Thanks for writing,
   Rick
3. Bob TheGnome says:

   November 8, 2009 at 5:14 pm

   I always take bright yellow duct tape and place strips of it on the top and across my suitcases. Since my suitcases are the same black color ones that everyone has, I can tell immediately which ones are mine as they come off of the carousel. But alas, don’t pack anything of value in the bags. Might mean your fine argentine wines will get stolen not only by Customs and the TSA, but some moron who will sell it on ebay when he steals your bag! The world we live in!
4. Rick Seaney says:

   November 8, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   Bob,
   I like that colored-duct tape idea.
   Thanks for writing,
   Rick
5. Mark says:

   November 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm

   I just flew on alaska and someone stole a 1 gig thumb drive out of a zippered pouch inside my suitcase. My laptop bag was in the suitcase as well and the mouse, cables, etc were had been dumped out and scattered through the suitcase. I guess they were hoping there was some info on the thumb drive. I told Alaska that they should post a sign in baggage handling areas that from now on there will be thumb drives in luggage that contain a virus that will destroy all information on any computer it is plugged into from now on.
6. Rick Seaney says:

   November 20, 2009 at 4:37 pm

   Mark,
   Not sure Alaska (or any airline) would go for that, but I like how you think!
   Best,
   Rick