"Staying Safe from Airport Theft"

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Staying Safe from Airport Theft
By Nadine Wimmer
KSL-TV Ch 5 (NBC), Salt Lake City (UT)


During this busiest travel week of the year there's new information about
airport theft, not involving other passengers, but by those who are supposed
to protect us. KSL found of 207 airports across the country Salt Lake
International ranks 61 for theft by airport screeners. 

A trip through airport security can leave you without shoes for a while, but
few of us expect to travel and lose our valuables. 

Katie Christensen: "Going through, taking your coat off, taking your shoes
off, I could easily lose something." 

Records show, in the two years since TSA took over airport security, there
have been claims for theft, damage or losses of more than 36-million
dollars. More than one thousand passengers filed claims in the cities at the
top of the list. At Salt Lake International, 112 passengers have filed
claims totaling 44-thousand dollars. 

Earl Morris, TSA: "It's not a secret that there are airports around the
country where employees have been caught stealing." 

Of the 45,000 TSA employees, a few dozen have been arrested. No employees in
Salt Lake have been investigated. Part of the problem is these are hard
cases to track because bags pass through many hands on their way through
screening and loading by the airlines. 

Earl Morris: "It is, because you have people who aren't really sure where
they lost it either. It could be in any one of two or three airports by the
time they get home and notice it missing." 

The airport uses surveillance cameras and other measures to deter theft.
It's a problem they take seriously. 

Earl Morris: "I think people have a reasonable expectation that I agree
with. That when you employ someone in a government position, it's an implied
test." 

Here's something that may help, it's new in many airports. They give you
plastic bags so you can put in your lose belongings. The benefit is it not
only speeds up the process, but you can seal it up and make sure it's all
there when it comes out the other end. 

Eric Soelberg, Texas: "A lot of times I'm worried about other things,
getting stuff out of my pocket or something. So it's nice to know it's all
there." 

Most importantly, they encourage passengers not to pack your valuables,
carry them on. But when you do, keep an eye on your belongings even during
the screening process. 

Eric Christensen, Provo: "Once I put it on the belt, then I make sure I get
it on the other end. But I don't really keep a close eye on it while I'm
walking through." 

Airport passenger claims & loss amounts against the Transportation Security
Administration 2002-2004. Source: Transportation Security Administration 

Airports-Claims against T.S.A. 2002-2004 Claims Loss Amount Date 

Los Angeles International 1994 $854,622.08 as of 10/13/04 
Chicago (O'Hare) International 1283 $454,901.04 as of 10/13/04 
Seattle/Tacoma Airport 1282 $689,427.81 as of 11/09/04 
New York (Kennedy) International Airport 1183 $24,289,898.51 as of 11/09/04 
Orlando International Airport 1077 $307,672.74 as of 10/13/04 
Miami International Airport 1076 $396,303.47 as of 10/13/04 
Phoenix (Sky Harbor) International Airport 1015 $239,585.38 as of 10/13/04 
New York (La Guardia) Airport 877 $443,395.05 as of 10/13/04 
Philadelphia International Airport 869 $237,840.16 as of 10/13/04 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 843 $340,544.29 as of 10/13/04 
Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport 691 $271,133.75 as of 8/31/04 
Tampa, FL 689 $213,156.71 as of 8/31/04 
Denver International Airport 615 $236,544.59 as of 11/03/04 
Detroit (Wayne County) Metropolitan Airport 589 $305,951.24 as of 8/31/04 
Baltimore Washington International Airport 502 $198,969.87 as of 8/31/04 
Las Vegas (McCarran) International Airport 487 $464,824.79 as of 8/31/04 
Boston (Logan) International Airport 479 $243,158.92 as of 8/31/04 
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport 462 $161,978.76 as of 8/31/04 
Newark International Airport 411 $181,160.56 as of 8/31/04 
San Diego International Airport 390 $141,494.96 as of 8/31/04 
Washington D.C. (Dulles) International Airport 353 $170,069.04 as of 8/31/04

West Palm Beach, Florida 327 $145,839.81 as of 8/31/04 
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport 327 $188,772.43 as of 8/31/04 
San Jose International Airport 300 $112,090.80 as of 8/31/04 
Oakland International Airport 299 $1,272,211.01 as of 8/31/04 
New Orleans, Louisiana 288 $106,907.90 as of 8/31/04 
Indianapolis, Indiana 278 $88,878.97 as of 8/31/04 
Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport 278 $99,285.94 as of 8/31/04 
Cleveland, OH 254 $93,713.46 as of 8/31/04 
Honolulu International Airport 248 $91,017.52 as of 8/31/04 
Portland, Oregon 243 $87,367.40 as of 8/31/04 
Orange County, California (John Wayne Airport) 219 $71,996.60 as of 8/31/04 
Charlotte, NC 219 $94,331.10 as of 8/31/04 
St. Louis, Missouri 216 $83,812.13 as of 8/31/04 
Albany, NY 207 $39,129.60 as of 8/31/04 
Spokane, Washington 205 $53,657.48 as of 8/31/04 
Foreign airport 201 $233,518.92 as of 8/31/04 
San Francisco International Airport 196 $100,395.99 as of 8/31/04 
Pittsburgh International Airport 195 $69,326.73 as of 8/31/04 
Anchorage, AK 194 $43,489.47 as of 8/31/04 
Fort Myers, Florida 186 $86,368.79 as of 8/31/04 
Covington, Kentucky 181 $40,053.21 as of 8/31/04 
Chicago, IL - Midway Airport 181 $111,464.11 as of 8/31/04 
Nashville, Tennessee 170 $78,995.42 as of 8/31/04 
Tucson, Arizona 165 $40,845.55 as of 8/31/04 
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina 165 $82,182.58 as of 8/31/04 
Houston Hobby Airport, TX 162 $52,768.92 as of 8/31/04 
Buffalo, NY 162 $44,498.08 as of 8/31/04 
Sacramento International Airport 161 $79,379.32 as of 8/31/04 
Washington D.C. (National) Airport 157 $72,502.33 as of 8/31/04 
El Paso International Airport 154 $31,812.20 as of 8/31/04 
Manchester, New Hampshire 146 $62,004.68 as of 8/31/04 
Albuquerque, NM 144 $44,572.50 as of 8/31/04 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 140 $40,191.44 as of 8/31/04 
Austin, TX 129 $113,404.32 as of 8/31/04 
Jacksonville, Florida 128 $40,902.04 as of 8/31/04 
Tulsa, Oklahoma 127 $39,970.61 as of 8/31/04 
San Antonio, Texas 126 $39,562.53 as of 8/31/04 
Richmond, Virginia 125 $39,443.34 as of 8/31/04 
Long Beach, California 122 $73,780.46 as of 8/31/04 
Salt Lake City International Airport 112 $44,265.41 as of 8/31/04 
Atlanta, GA 110 $45,485.60 as of 8/31/04 
Norfolk, Virginia 103 $76,609.07 as of 8/31/04 
Hartford, CT 97 $25,478.15 as of 8/31/04 
Reno, Nevada 90 $54,759.97 as of 8/31/04 
Memphis, Tennessee 83 $40,863.35 as of 8/31/04 
San Juan, PR (Luis Munoz Marin Intl) 79 $50,737.74 as of 8/31/04 
Cincinnati, OH 76 $23,915.27 as of 8/31/04 
Des Moines, Iowa 73 $15,181.57 as of 8/31/04 
Boise, ID 71 $22,251.97 as of 8/31/04 
Providence, Rhode Island 68 $15,173.53 as of 8/31/04 
Omaha, Nebraska 60 $18,968.14 as of 8/31/04 
Kansas City, Missouri 59 $21,489.84 as of 8/31/04 
Birmingham, AL 57 $15,385.08 as of 8/31/04 
Columbus, OH 56 $10,662.24 as of 8/31/04 
Sarasota, Florida 55 $12,947.82 as of 8/31/04 
Ontario Airport 54 $13,823.25 as of 8/31/04 
Colorado Springs, CO 53 $212,401.17 as of 8/31/04 
Louisville, Kentucky 49 $10,455.09 as of 8/31/04 
Portland, Maine 47 $8,419.41 as of 8/31/04 
Little Rock, Arkansas 46 $10,598.91 as of 8/31/04 
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport 46 $11,530.63 as of 8/31/04 
Savannah, GA 43 $14,740.13 as of 8/31/04 
Hartford, CT (Bradley International Airport) 42 $8,366.41 as of 8/31/04 
Shreveport, Louisiana 38 $17,155.33 as of 8/31/04 
St. Petersburg, Florida 34 $9,275.40 as of 8/31/04 
Syracuse, NY 32 $31,360.34 as of 8/31/04 
Rochester, New York 32 $10,078.66 as of 8/31/04 
Dallas, TX (Love Field) 32 $7,329.37 as of 8/31/04 
Kona International 31 $3,423.86 as of 8/31/04 
Wichita, KS 30 $8,468.29 as of 8/31/04 
Palm Springs, CA 28 $3,993.41 as of 8/31/04 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 28 $16,211.29 as of 8/31/04 
Charleston, WV 27 $11,692.91 as of 8/31/04 
Columbia, SC 26 $11,537.96 as of 8/31/04 
Harrisburg, PA 25 $12,750.65 as of 8/31/04 
Greenville-Spartanburg, SC 25 $7,170.95 as of 8/31/04 
Daytona Beach, Florida 25 $4,176.59 as of 8/31/04 
St. Thomas (Cyril King), V.I. 23 $8,523.57 as of 8/31/04 
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 22 $3,952.37 as of 8/31/04 
Newburgh, New York 20 $6,317.92 as of 8/31/04 
Missoula, Montana 20 $5,911.41 as of 8/31/04 
Kahului-Maui, HI 20 $6,922.34 as of 8/31/04 
Flint, Michigan 20 $6,168.24 as of 8/31/04 
Quad Cities/Moline, Illinois 18 $2,839.01 as of 8/31/04 
Lexington, KY (Blue Grass Field) 17 $2,678.51 as of 8/31/04 
Key West, Florida 17 $2,683.13 as of 8/31/04 
Akron-Canton, OH 17 $2,969.13 as of 8/31/04 
Santa Barbara, California 16 $2,297.29 as of 8/31/04 
Grand Rapids, MI (Gerald R. Ford International) 16 $3,945.62 as of 8/31/04 
Fresno, CA 15 $3,092.51 as of 8/31/04 
Charleston, SC 15 $5,062.56 as of 8/31/04 
Baton Rouge Metro. 15 $2,441.28 as of 8/31/04 
Pasco, Washington 14 $3,140.61 as of 8/31/04 
Allentown, PA 14 $5,175.20 as of 8/31/04 
Rapid City, South Dakota 13 $1,558.57 as of 8/31/04 
Myrtle Beach, SC 13 $2,205.92 as of 8/31/04 
Knoxville, Tennessee 13 $5,499.28 as of 8/31/04 
Lihue Airport 12 $3,760.91 as of 8/31/04 
Bristol / Johnson City / Kingsport, TN (Tri-Cities) 12 $1,565.69 as of
8/31/04 
Greensboro-High Point, NC (Piedmont Triad Intl Airport 11 $4,063.61 as of
8/31/04 
Burlington, VT 11 $2,249.19 as of 8/31/04 
Asheville, NC Regional 11 $2,859.19 as of 8/31/04 
Yuma, Arizona 10 $873.40 as of 8/31/04 
Toledo, OH 10 $2,002.95 as of 8/31/04 
Lincoln, Nebraska 10 $1,348.94 as of 8/31/04 
Dayton, Ohio 10 $1,859.99 as of 8/31/04 
Orlando Sanford 9 $1,939.96 as of 8/31/04 
Jackson, MS 9 $918.26 as of 8/31/04 
Eugene, OR 9 $1,536.49 as of 8/31/04 
Cedar Rapids, IA 9 $2,081.96 as of 8/31/04 
Springfield, Missouri 8 $4,650.47 as of 8/31/04 
Islip Long Island, NY McArthur 8 $1,620.53 as of 8/31/04 
Hilo, HI 8 $1,424.47 as of 8/31/04 
White Plains, New York 7 $2,446.22 as of 8/31/04 
Mobile, AL Airport 7 $4,397.97 as of 8/31/04 
Maui, HI 7 $6,108.99 as of 8/31/04 
Great Falls, MT 7 $3,094.55 as of 8/31/04 
Fort Wayne, IN 7 $3,749.34 as of 8/31/04 
Bozeman, Montana 7 $1,842.69 as of 8/31/04 
Newport News/ Williamsburg, VA 6 $1,169.52 as of 8/31/04 
McAllen, Texas 6 $7,669.82 as of 8/31/04 
Lubbock International Airport, TX 6 $481.00 as of 8/31/04 
La Crosse Municipal, WI 6 $611.00 as of 8/31/04 
Huntsville, AL 6 $49,612.56 as of 8/31/04 
Stewart, NY 5 $3,485.89 as of 8/31/04 
San Luis Obispo, California 5 $3,425.00 as of 8/31/04 
Pensacola, FL 5 $1,386.18 as of 8/31/04 
Monterey, California 5 $2,127.55 as of 8/31/04 
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 5 $552.38 as of 8/31/04 
Fairbanks, Alaska 5 $1,329.15 as of 8/31/04 
Columbus Metro. Airport, GA 5 $1,719.26 as of 8/31/04 
Bangor, ME 5 $787.00 as of 8/31/04 
Tallahassee, FL 4 $593.00 as of 8/31/04 
Green Bay, WI 4 $674.00 as of 8/31/04 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 4 $400.61 as of 8/31/04 
Aberdeen Regional, SD 4 $61,074.99 as of 8/31/04 
Wilmington, NC International 3 $240.85 as of 8/31/04 
Sanford, FL 3 $454.00 as of 8/31/04 
San Angelo, TX 3 $456.37 as of 8/31/04 
Rochester, MN 3 $563.85 as of 8/31/04 
Medford, Oregon 3 $257.99 as of 8/31/04 
Lihue, HI 3 $120.94 as of 8/31/04 
Laramie City, Wyoming 3 $390.00 as of 8/31/04 
Fort Worth, Texas 3 $286.51 as of 8/31/04 
Flagstaff, AZ 3 $300.39 as of 8/31/04 
Corpus Christi, TX 3 $505.92 as of 8/31/04 
Binghamton, NY 3 $550.00 as of 8/31/04 
Warwick, RI 2 $120.00 as of 8/31/04 
Tri-Cities Airport, TN 2 $875.00 as of 8/31/04 
Traverse City, MI 2 $150.00 as of 8/31/04 
St. Croix, USVI 2 $805.00 as of 8/31/04 
Nantucket, Mass. 2 $2,933.33 as of 8/31/04 
Midland International, Texas 2 $214.26 as of 8/31/04 
Killeen, TX 2 $159.50 as of 8/31/04 
Kalamazoo, MI 2 $140.00 as of 8/31/04 
Juneau, Alaska 2 $134.95 as of 8/31/04 
Hilton Head, SC 2 $954.00 as of 8/31/04 
Gulfport, MS 2 $957.00 as of 8/31/04 
Gainesville, FL 2 $1,171.00 as of 8/31/04 
Fayetteville, North Carolina  2 $589.49 as of 8/31/04 
Eagle County, CO 2 $2,989.00 as of 8/31/04 
Central Wisconsin - Mosinee, WI 2 $30.00 as of 8/31/04 
Biloxi/Gulfport, MS 2 $429.00 as of 8/31/04 
Augusta, GA 2 $379.95 as of 8/31/04 
Atlantic City, NJ 2 $130.00 as of 8/31/04 
Yakutat, AK 1 $97.96 as of 8/31/04 
Wood County, West Virginia 1 $1,675.00 as of 8/31/04 
Tyler, TX (Pounds Field) 1 $75.00 as of 8/31/04 
Springfield, IL 1 $1,564.00 as of 8/31/04 
Peoria, IL 1 $300.00 as of 8/31/04 
Monterey, CA 1 $120.80 as of 8/31/04 
Lewiston, ID 1 $178.77 as of 8/31/04 
Lansing, MI 1 $63.58 as of 8/31/04 
Lake Charles Regional Airport 1 $779.77 as of 8/31/04 
Ketchikan International 1 $200.00 as of 8/31/04 
Harlingen, TX 1 $423.59 as of 8/31/04 
Guam 1 $800.00 as of 8/31/04 
Fort Dodge, IA 1 $1,857.00 as of 8/31/04 
Fort Collins, CO 1 $25.00 as of 8/31/04 
Florence, SC 1 $40.00 as of 8/31/04 
Destin, Florida 1 $500.00 as of 8/31/04 
Craven City (New Bern) Airport 1 $92.02 as of 8/31/04 
Chicago, IL - Meigs Field 1 $400.00 as of 8/31/04 
Brainerd, MN 1 $125.00 as of 8/31/04 
Bloomington, IL 1 $15.95 as of 8/31/04 
Aguadilla, PR (Rafael Hernandez Airport) 1 $200.00 as of 8/31/04 

TOTALS 27630 $36,375,915.06

On the Web:
 TSA Claims Management Office
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=174


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************