Security screeners have sticky fingers!

[Ozy_Flame]

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/13...ian-travellers

This story kinda made me angry. I've always had my suspicions, but it sucks knowing that other people have the same concerns. Lucky this story makes it appear that Pearson is problematic, not YYC.

I personally take three bins for security - one for JUST my wallet and keys (which I always keep an eye on), one for my carry-on bag (which I only have headphones and a book in), and one for my laptop.

Thoughts?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Kinda pisses me off tbh. You hope these guys are looking for bad guys but instead some are looking for something to pick off instead.

I realize this is a very small number of them doing it, but if just one person gets that one item through because some jerkoff is trying to lift some change for a coffee.....

[Beerfest]

So where's the proof airport security screeners are to blame?

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

So where's the proof airport security screeners are to blame?

Always gotta question the media's story eh?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

So where's the proof airport security screeners are to blame?

Have you ever been on a plane before?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

So where's the proof airport security screeners are to blame?

If you're going through security, who else would have a chance to steal your stuff?

[Canada 02]

the article in the op was a follow up on this article

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/12...documents-show

Over an eight-month period, two colleagues said they watched with incredulity and shock as Bouffard directed passengers to walk through airport X-ray screening and metal detector machines before he then snatched coins and wallets from the bins when their backs were turned.
In seconds, he'd grab $20 bills and other cash and stuff it all into his pockets. Then, he'd calmly push the bins through the X-ray machine, even as surveillance cameras rolled above him.
A QMI Agency investigation found that Bouffard may have robbed hundreds - possibly thousands - of unwitting travellers in Montreal in 2001 and 2002.
Bouffard later told authorities that other screeners also robbed passengers.
Oversight was so lax, Bouffard said, he and other rogue screeners didn’t bother to hide their thefts from security cameras. A Quebec Public Security department official, after interviews with police and others, wrote a pre-sentencing report backing his claims.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you're going through security, who else would have a chance to steal your stuff?

Last time I flew I made a rookie mistake of forgetting my belt. By the time they were done with me, my bins had been sitting there for a few minutes. Other passengers were grabbing their stuff- would have taken seconds to plunk anything of mine.

Not saying this didn't happen; but if stuff goes missing there could be other suspects.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Last time I flew I made a rookie mistake of forgetting my belt. By the time they were done with me, my bins had been sitting there for a few minutes. Other passengers were grabbing their stuff- would have taken seconds to plunk anything of mine.

Not saying this didn't happen; but if stuff goes missing there could be other suspects.

If you forget to empty your bin then yeah I could see someone else possibly taking your items.

[ken0042]

What I was saying was that several people behind me had a chance to empty my bin while I was distracted by the guy who was investigating my junk; and how said junk could be setting off the metal detector.

[JohnnyB]

Any time I fly I put my wallet, watch and phone well into my bag in a zipped pocket. Not impossible to steal, but would require unzipping my carry on and then unzipping the internal pocked. I've never really thought about the fact that security people might be ripping me off (except for when I've been carrying tens of thousands of RMB in cash, which I make a point of keeping on my person) but I just worry about something being misplaced or another person picking up my stuff. I suppose it's a good habit though.

[Flashpoint]

Wow, what a shocker.

The meaningless "security" at the airports are thieves as well as morons.

I had to explain to one (a young guy) what an MP3 player is, and what it does.

I was in a security line in Toronto, and one lady was at the back of the line telling everyone to have their laptops out and powered on, while another was at the front saying all laptops needed to be kept in their bags. They met in the middle, and had a screaming match in front of everyone.

In Calgary they felt the need to put up a sign indicating that there were 3 exceptions to the "no fluids or gels" restrictions. Insulin for diabetics, baby formula for nursing infants, and breast implants. That's right. They're so f-ing dumb, they figured they needed to put up a big official sign telling the public they could travel with their breast implants.

I was asked to show ID before collecting my luggage. I showed my passport. The response was "NO! I need to see ID!". I had to explain to airport security what a passport was. For real.

It's security theater. I wish they would focus on real security. A good first step would be to pay the position like it was for professionals, and maybe require some basic education in order to apply.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Wow, what a shocker.

The meaningless "security" at the airports are thieves as well as morons.

I had to explain to one (a young guy) what an MP3 player is, and what it does.

I was in a security line in Toronto, and one lady was at the back of the line telling everyone to have their laptops out and powered on, while another was at the front saying all laptops needed to be kept in their bags. They met in the middle, and had a screaming match in front of everyone.

In Calgary they felt the need to put up a sign indicating that there were 3 exceptions to the "no fluids or gels" restrictions. Insulin for diabetics, baby formula for nursing infants, and breast implants. That's right. They're so f-ing dumb, they figured they needed to put up a big official sign telling the public they could travel with their breast implants.

I was asked to show ID before collecting my luggage. I showed my passport. The response was "NO! I need to see ID!". I had to explain to airport security what a passport was. For real.

It's security theater. I wish they would focus on real security. A good first step would be to pay the position like it was for professionals, and maybe require some basic education in order to apply.

That's exactly what it is, theater, and bad theater at that. My wife and I were flying out of Winnipeg recently and a 'security' woman at the start of the screening area immediately grabbed my wife's bottle of water and threw it about 3-4 feet into the trash.

Like f*** off, you're telling me that bottle of water of a potential explosive that you just toss around into a garbage can full of other potential explosives?

Ok fine, maybe it's a bomb, why arean't you calling the bomb squad? What happens to the garbage when it's full? Does the bomb squad take it away? Is it common practice to toss bombs around like dirty laundry?

No, it's a damn bottle of water, I know it, you know it, and so does everybody else. But if your going to tell me it's a potential bomb I want you to treat it as such and not throw it across the room.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

No, it's a damn bottle of water, I know it, you know it, and so does everybody else. But if your going to tell me it's a potential bomb I want you to treat it as such and not throw it across the room.

PETN / liquid bombs need an igniter, like a lighter or a match . . .

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

PETN / liquid bombs need an igniter, like a lighter or a match . . .

Yet I've taken cigarette lighters onto planes many times.

[burn_this_city]

They got mad at me a couple weeks back because I threw my lighter in the garbage behind them instead of giving it to them for incineration. Apparently we spend money having pocket knives and lighters incinerated.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Yet I've taken cigarette lighters onto planes many times.

I guess my point is that they're throwing it in a garbage can, not a flaming barrel of incendiaries lol

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Yet I've taken cigarette lighters onto planes many times.

But not two lighters, god help the other passengers if you have two.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Always gotta question the media's story eh?

Im not as much questioning the story as im questioning the possibilty of these people losing items elsewhere.

[VladtheImpaler]

The worst I've ever seen is Philadelphia... and don't call me a racist. The problem is that it's a job just a notch above the guy who walks around Wal-Mart with a flashlight. You get what you pay for...