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TSA Officers Fired After Stealing From Passengers
Have you ever arrived at your destination to find items missing from your suitcase and thought, "I wonder how that happened?" It turns out, you may have been a victim of TSA theft.
ABC News, as seen in the clip above, conducted an investigation into the security of airport screening stations. New figures show that 381 TSA officers have been fired after stealing from passengers and their luggage. The investigation tracked checked bags with iPads and cash, and also went through security checkpoints with these items in carry-on luggage.
In nine of ten cases, the items made it to their destination safely. But in Orlando, an iPad left behind ended up in the hands of a security officer. Using a device-tracking app on the iPad, investigators traced the iPad to the home of the security officer last seen with the device. After denying that he stole the item, the officer was caught red-handed when the alert for the device was heard from inside his home.
Thankfully, the officer has been terminated. We're sure this will lead to further TSA investigations, but for now, we'd suggest putting valuable items in the safety of your well-guarded carry-on bag.
Filed under: Video, Airports, News, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 8)
kermit beckmann Sep 28th 2012 5:38PM
As a guy who flys almost 200,000 miles a year.....these people disgust me, and further why was he not arrested for stealing, and prosecuted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex B Sep 28th 2012 6:59PM
Welcome to the "brave new world" created in the wake of the 9/11 incidents, where civil liberties don't exist and "national security" reigns supreme! Are you aware that oftentimes (like whenever you enter a commercial airline terminal), serial murderers incarcarated in our prisons have more civil rights than you have? And the Federal Government under his majesty king George I (aka "dubya") had the temerity to claim that we (meaning his imperial majesty and the American people) won the war on terror. Like hell we did! You have only to look around you at the sorry state of the economy and your limited freedom of travel (only the tip of the iceberg) to see that Georgie Boy lied through his teeth (or was it that he was too ignorant to see the ersatz reality he helped to create as POTUS?) when he declared victory on the deck of an aircraft carrier looking ludricous in an Air Force flight suit he should have worn more often when he was in the USAF, instead of gadding about on the golf course getting himself wasted on booze while others were sent to Viet Nam in his stead.
Patty Goldman Sep 28th 2012 5:35PM
Yesterday,Sept. 27th I flew from Las Vegas to Orange County,Ca. I meant to take my Acer laptop out of my luggage but forgot and checked it in. I was concerned about it breaking when other luggage was piled on mine but felt O.K. and hopeful.
When I arrived at Orange County I immediately went to my luggage to see if it was O.K. It was gone.All my plug-ins and my mouse were still in my luggage.When I called TSA I was told that if I checked my bag at the curb that they had no involvement with it only Southwest Airlines. Southwest airline people said after they check it in it goes thru TSA X-ray. So TSA lied. Where's my laptop?Just because I mistakenly left it in my luggage doesn't justify TSA stealing it. I want it back.I bet they have records showing my laptop going thru. Should I call Brian Ross, the F.B.I ?
victor gibson Oct 6th 2012 3:30PM
Yes you should call the FBI or the local police who have jurisdiction in the place where the crime happened. Thankyou patriot act. Notice the name.! what a farce. Bush was overheard saying. " If they knew what we did to them they would come and lynch us" So far the media has kept this secret it was heard on a white house recording.
The damned conspiracy theorists were correct. It doesnt involve every politician but it involves the majority. TIm ryan not to be confused with paul ryan is an honest politician. I heard him blast the senate for all of these things from the Illegal president george bush.
blah Sep 28th 2012 5:35PM
i gots ta look in ya aaaasssshoe
TJA Sep 28th 2012 5:39PM
they went after the Paul's because he wants to abolish the TSA
maurometz Sep 28th 2012 6:27PM
Down with the TSA! Down with DHS! And dwn with ever other alphabet soup "national security" agency created under GWB in the wake of the terror attacks of 9/11/2001! Bush used these tragic events to create a climate of fear that continues to this day, more than a decade later. He sold the panicked Congress and a goodly portion of the American public on the idea that terrorist-fighting agencies will eliminate the threat of a repeat of the 9/11 attacks. In truth, even if all of the clowns who ended up in the extremely costly agencies that were created to combat terrorism on US soil were rigorously trained to do the jobs they were hired to do, they would be doomed to failure, but perhaps not as spectularly as we've seen to date. By its very nature, terrorism cannot be stopped until every nation wipes them from the face of the Earth, though it can be stemmed. If a determined, well-funded terrorist "cell" (which can be as few as ONE person) with a well-thought-out plan of attack and the proper training can succeed in spite of millions and even billions of dollars being spent to assure his or her failure.
TSA and DHS are peopled by arrogant, petty dictators who should have been weeded out during the recruitment phase. It appears that TSA agents are trained mainly to posture and push their weight around to inconvenience the traveling public--oh, and to occationally steal from the people they're supposed to protect. It appears that what we need is protection from these petty dictators. DHS frequently points to the fact that there have been no commercial airplane seizures by terrorists since the 9/11 debacle. Although this may be true, it is is also possible that this was a one-shot deal and that serious terrorists are canny enough to realize that another stop at this particular watering hole might a bit risky. We have more to fear from the terrorist who simply strolls across at any point along our extremely long borders with all the equipment he needs strapped to his back than from a box-cutter-wielding fanatic boarding one of our commercial airplanes.
My greatest fear in the backlash of the events of 9/11 is the deprivation of the civil liberties our forefathers drafted in the Constitution and added to with the Bill of Rights and the thousands--nay, millions--of valiant Americans who gave their lives to secure our freedoms for all time. Thanks to Bush and his cronies and their creation of a climate of fear, we are now being subjected to an erosion of our civil liberties (given to us by our government in the making when we separated from the tyranny of an English king--not by "God" and "nature", as that jackass Paul Ryan claimed in a speech I heard on CNN). Thanks to GWB and the weak-kneed Republican Congress, our Federal government now has the power to remove from each of us all civil liberties simply by citing "national security", frequently without habeas corpus.
It is not my intent here to foster an additional climate of fear, except as it applies to our continuing slide to total government control of the people for its own dictatorial ends. There is nothing more insidious and dangerous to the common man than a self-serving government that would deprive its citizens freedom to the "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" our American forefathers deemed we deserved. Any abridgement of these basic rights is a form of internal terrorism and must be stamped at the polls by the electorate, many of whom became disenfranchised in 2000 and then again in 2004.
One final word: we continue to fight a "war on terrorism" through super-powerful security agencies and the illegal war in Afghanistan and the all-but-finished war in Iraq. Message to Uncle Sam: The war was over on 9/11 when terrorist operations succeeded. All of the loss of civil liberties the American citizen have made us suffer through and the humongous debt you heaped upon us and future generations are unambiguous evidence that you lost your war and reduced the greatness of the United States of America. The USA, it appears, is now more villified outside our borders than at any other time in our history.
victor gibson Oct 6th 2012 3:30PM
I congratulate you sir for your ability to observe truly what this entire scenario was about and the dolt they used as a puppett to sell the idea thru fear tactics and telling the people Oh I'll protect you from terrorists and they acted like scared chickens and ran. They ridiculed michael Moore for his movie and demanding congress read the patriot act yet he was right. They scream conspiracy theorist yet there truly is a conspiracy it doesnt involve every single senator or congressperson but the majority it does.
It goes deeper. It goes all the way beyond what humans know as reality,
I thankyou for the effort to write this for everyone to read. Your absolutely correct. I want to warn you that in 2016 new york , Los Angeles, London,.. Tel Aviv ,. and Tehran all will be hit with nuclear bombs. Millions will die in a day, power will be out for millions acrossed several states and not for a few days but weeks. My email is v7howklooshataoldotcom. in case you wish to discuss other things I know or you know.
Derek Sep 28th 2012 6:24PM
They're a bunch of thieves & think they're above the law with an attitude. So much for making passengers travel safe.
Alex B Sep 28th 2012 6:43PM
They do, indeed, appear to be above the law. Their employment with the TSA is simply terminated. None of them appears to have been charged with felony theft and brought to the bar of justice. As Federal employees, they should be held t0o a higher level of accountability for their actions. If they had been John Doe citizens who were caught in the act of stealing, I imagine they would spend time behind bars. where they belong. Such is the hypocracy of the TSA, DHs and the Federal Government in general.
Lacey Sep 28th 2012 6:43PM
My wife was taken out of line at the Miami Airport into a security pat down room where her purse was placed behind a counter so that it was not visable to her and no less than 3 TSA security guards rifled through the purse. When we arrived home, she realized that the bracelet our daughter had just bought her was missing.
OTTO Sep 28th 2012 6:50PM
yes it's always "those" people they get government jobs AND welfare checks.
Jerry Sep 28th 2012 6:57PM
Tell me who started the Agency?
The idiot pair: Bush and Chenney
Raymond Sep 28th 2012 7:10PM
These 'geniuses' that are committing these thefts don't realize that the newer iPads, iPhones, Cellular & Smart Phones are capable of "being tracked." Even City, County, State, & Federal Computer Laptops and/or Desktops that are used by their employees have "a tracking chip" installed, that once it's "hooked up" to the Internet and/or WiFi can be tracked immediately, if stolen. When is the TSA Managers going to start hiring some honest Employees that don't have "Oatmeal for Brains?" Not to mention "a Napoleonic Power Complex?"
J V L Sep 30th 2012 1:04AM
The moral of the story is: get to the airport EARLY. Allow time to go through the screening and CHECK YOUR CARRYONS.
Do NOT pack anything of value in your suitcase that will be stowed in the airplane hold.
Another good foil for women is to trash up a purse with sanitary items, a billfold with fake credit cards and one or two dollars only in it, and put your REAL wallet someplace else.
If the TSA agent tries to separate you from your laptop, bag, etc., ask for a supervisor IMMEDIATELY. Memphis, TN airport TSA are KNOWN to move you on the opposite end of the screening area AWAY from your carryon, purse, or briefcase.
DON'T BE A VICTIM. They are paid for out of TAXPAYER money.
If there are problems, get names, dates, times and CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN.
Kevin Sep 28th 2012 7:49PM
People have to remember that the most worthless Secretary in our government, Napolitano is running the TSA. How can the incompetence be tolerated at an agency that is designed for our safety?
Donald Goodin Sep 28th 2012 8:01PM
I find all this just expanding the Governments power over us....lol....I mean, can the TSA name one person or event where they've saved the day??
No, they can't & now they want to be in Bus stations & on our nations
highways~I'm not afraid of Muslims, I am afraid of our Government!
victor gibson Oct 6th 2012 3:30PM
Ive been warning people for years and so has Michael Moore while people ridicule him.
Ron Paul tried to warn americans americans called ron paul too old or not electable all idiotic labels and it wasnt americans who did this it was the american media bought and controlled by the worst filth in our nations capital.,
Your very observant keep talking support these awarenesses and get others to do the same in whatever way you can. Unify for real not this wave flags and watch your kids march off to be shot for george bushy boy and dick cheney
neesee Sep 28th 2012 8:17PM
There are thieves and liars among us everywhere we go, anybody else ever notice? Tsa doesn't make them crooks, they already were. Anywhere you have to leave your stuff with strangers, there is a chance someone along the line will have sticky fingers. Before TSA, the baggage boys were always getting popped for stealing items and whole suitcases.......my point is that you really can't yelp about something that has been going on since the first commercial flight! People are dirty rotten selfish thieves, period. Not all TSA agents are ripping everybody off and they are not there to infringe on your precious little lives, they are there to protect you and your country. Show a little respect to the ones who are doing their job as it should be done.
EVERYBODY Sep 28th 2012 9:11PM
Should I respect the person who stole my $365+ digital camera from my bag..??