"Four Honolulu airport screeners arrested"

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Airport Screeners Face Indictment In Luggage-Theft Investigation
Theft Accusations Also Happen At Mainland Airports
KITV-TV Ch 4 (ABC), Honolulu (HI)


HONOLULU -- They're the men and women responsible for keeping dangerous
items off flights, but authorities have placed four Transportation Security
Administration screeners at Honolulu International Airport on leave for
suspected theft from passengers' luggage.

The move was made after about a four-month investigation.

The screeners taken into custody were stealing money out of the luggage they
were in charge of searching, sources told KITV 4 News. They said Japanese
tourists were being targeted. 

The crime the four screeners are accused of is a felony. Indictments could
come in the next few weeks. Each of the accused workers could face prison
time.

It is not a problem that's unique to Hawaii. There are airport security
screeners on the mainland who have also been arrested on suspicion of theft,
accused of ripping off millions of dollars out of passenger luggage, purses
and briefcases. Many claims allege thefts both at baggage and security
checkpoints run by the TSA.

Travelers KITV 4 News spoke with Tuesday said it makes them uneasy, but they
were not surprised.

"In these times of heightened security, you'd like to think you're going to
give people the benefit of the doubt. It makes sense. They should be
checking your luggage for dangerous substances, but you don't want to think
that the people who are checking the luggage are dangerous as well,"
traveler Jerusha Stewart said.

"I know it happens and the best way not to get anything valuable stolen is
not to put it in your bag," Tennessee visitor Bill Kirkpatrick said.

The U.S. Attorney's office is involved in the case. Honolulu TSA Director
Sidney Hayakawa wouldn't comment on the case, saying it is still under
investigation.


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