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JFK baggage handlers charged with stealing $250,000 in jewelry
Two baggage handlers at JFK airport, a 51-year-old worker and his 39-year-old supervisor, have been charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property, according to MSNBC. The thieves haven't been slowly pilfering individual luggage, however; instead, they stole everything from one container marked "high value." One of the men opened the container, passed the goods off to the other guy, who put it in his jacket and later a locker -- where the jewels were found.
Now, I'm in no way excusing the theft, but doesn't it seem counterintuitive to mark something as "high value?"
Wow, if it's not the baggage handlers, it's the TSA. Which group frustrates you most?
Just in case you didn't know how many people hate the TSA, here are some reasons to be annoyed with them:
Just in case you didn't know how many people hate the TSA, here are some reasons to be annoyed with them:
- TSA pours out coffee, ignores boxcutter
- TSA steals traveler's pudding, leaves him armed with knife
- TSA thief caught red-handed, arrested
- TSA screeners fail to catch explosives at security checkpoint
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Kat Nelson Jan 17th 2008 2:28PM
This is so typical of airlines. And typical of people who actually trust airlines. My baggage was confiscated at Boston Logan and gone through by a bunch of Arab guys who stuffed the dirty laundry back in when they couldn't find anything of value in my cases. I absolutely NEVER travel with valuables.
I would prefer to be understated than a target for thieves. They take one look at you and your clothes and baggage AND handbags especially those pricey ones that vain women need to feel important, and they are after you like a shark in a school of bleeding fish.
Sunday Jan 17th 2008 2:37PM
9 Years Old and Trapped
Trained Security? I don't think so. My family travels quite often, and every single time there is an incident. About 18 months ago my husband, his mother, and I were flying from West Palm Beach (a very small airport) to New York with our 3 children--ages 9, 12, and 14. Our daughter, the 9 year old, stepped into the puffer machine at the security check point. It detected explosive residue on her. The security personnel would not let her out of the machine until a "Supervisor" arrived to check her and her carryon. She was in the machine terrified for 10 minutes. I was not allowed to go near the machine to assure her everything was fine. This turned into a 40 minute ordeal. Luckily someone in the security line next to us allowed my husband to cut line and go through security. As soon as he was through security he ran for the US Air counter because our flight was leaving. My husband explained what was happening at the check point, told US Air we were going to New York for a memorial service for his father--a Secret Service Agent killed in the line of duty--and asked them to hold the flight. US Air held the flight!! We got on the plane 10 minutes after it was supposed to take off. I'm sure the passengers on the plane--not knowing the reason for the delay--were upset. Lucky for us US Air was very understanding regarding the "security" delay, and we made it to the memorial. My family and I are flying out tonight--can't wait to see what happens during this trip!
Bobby G Jan 17th 2008 3:41PM
ABSOLUTELY IT'S THE CORRUPT AND IGNORANT HIRING PRACTICES. How the hell do these people get hired?! It's the people who hire them, of course. You KNOW they have some kind of an "in" to getting hired when they have criminal records as long as your arm and so do the supervisors. AND, they are all illiterate, bumbling idiots. EVERY TIME they test these low lifes they fail at proper screening. You can tell just by looking at most of baggage handlers and TSA screeners that they couldn't be trusted to pick up your garbage let alone handle your bags or screen them. What is happening to this country? The population of criminals and idiots is exploding exponentially every day! We need to STOP this crap from continuing.
Pauline Kasper Jan 17th 2008 3:51PM
I never bring my really expensive jewellry with me on trips. Of course, I don't have anything that can be deemed expensive. If I take anything with me that is valuable, I always put it in my carry-on which stays with me the entire flight!
Barry Greenberg Jan 17th 2008 4:45PM
Just a note, I have had stuff stolen out of my luggage on numerous occasions, and when I told the TSA that maybe... they should have the inspector put a tag in there when they check the bags, with an ID # of the checker... They said that I was eligible for a 50.00 refund if I applied to the TSA, however they have no interest in holding their employees accountable..... GREAT SYSTEM Huh ?
Adventurer Jan 17th 2008 5:42PM
When you put valuables in luggage that you check with the airline, understand that the "handlers" have the ability to x-ray your luggage and see what is inside. They know which bags to open and rob easily.
Eyks Jan 17th 2008 7:16PM
The baggage handlers are supposed to be protecting us from terrorists. But who is protecting us from the corrupt baggage handlers!?
I for one would feel a lot better if they had surveillance cameras and a security supervisor watching all baggage handlers who search through luggage at all times. And perhaps if they faced more severe penalties for stealing from passengers, baggage handlers would not be so enticed by the temptation to steal things that they have easy access to. There are plenty of trustworthy baggage handlers - there are the good and the bad among all groups of people. Unfortunately, there are enough corrupt baggage handlers out there to keep the American public feeling more unsafe than they did before their bags were required to be searched!
Ron Jan 23rd 2008 8:06PM
FYI
The jewelry was stolen from a "high value" cargo container, NOT luggage.
Click on the MSNBC link at the start of this blog to read the entire story. Better yet, read the 01/13/08 NY POST "exclusive" article on the topic.
Lynne Jan 19th 2008 4:00AM
Thanks for the tip.