In Case You Missed It ...
Print
Nov 12, 2008 9:53 pm US/Central
Who's Stealing Your Luggage At The Airport?
Reporting
Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
It's a headache no one wants or needs when traveling by plane: discovering something stolen out from the luggage.
CBS 11 News uncovered about 2,000 reports of stolen and missing luggage at DFW and Dallas Love Field Airport.
But while DFW is the third busiest airport in the nation, it actually ranks 15th when it comes to claims of bags being stolen and lost.
"I don't really think about my stuff getting stolen," said traveler Lance Wagner. He felt that way until he flew on Sun County Airlines from DFW to Minneapolis last August.
He says he packed his GPS unit then checked it in with the airline. But when he arrived, the GPS wasn't in his bag.
"This was a graduation gift from my father worth almost $600. There were a lot of different emotions," he said.
Since last May, two other people who flew Sun Country made similar reports.
The company says "Sun Country Airlines is proud of its record of handling passengers' personal properties" and that it tries "to reach satisfactory settlements in every case..."
But Wagner says he's not satisfied.
"They said, 'Sorry. We can't reimburse you. All we can do is make sure there's a report out and keep our eyes open.' I haven't heard from them since then," he said.
Records show from October, 2002 through June of this year, there were more than 1,700 claims made of stolen items from luggage, and missing baggage at DFW international worth more than $1 million.
And at Love Field there were 168 complaints totaling more than $85.000 between February of 2003 and June of this year.
TSA spokeswoman Andrea McCauley says the agency investigates these reports, but doesn't pay out on every claim. "This is taxpayer money and so we have to be very cautious," she said.
TSA says it screens 65,000 passengers and 120,000 bags a day at both DFW International and Love Field.
Between 2002 and 2005, it fired four of its screeners at DFW for stealing. Through this year, McCauley says only one screener at Love Field has been fired.
"We have an absolute zero tolerance policy," she said. "We understand we are trusted by the public to do our work and keep them safe. We will basically let anyone go who undermines that trust."
As for Wagner, his stolen GPS has changed his behavior.
"Even when I'm not at an airport, I'm much more conscious of my surroundings and my belongings," he said.
One way to protect luggage is to buy a TSA approved lock, which is available at many stores.
Only a TSA screener has a master key to get into your bag if necessary. That should keep everyone else out.
Also, keep valuables in a carry-on and don't check them.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
More Money Saving Tips & Information
