Grrr...camera stolen from overhead locker!

[Febs]

:evil:

Jumped onto QF128 from HK on Saturday night (arriving at SYD early Sunday morning), locked the section of my bag that had my laptop, passport, important work documents etc... and went to sleep.

Of course, nothing else fitted in that section, so my camera and other items were in another section of the bag, unlocked (yes, stupid).

Placed the bag in the overhead locker, and settled down for a (fragmented) sleep.

Arrived in Sydney, collected my baggage, cleared immigration/customs (backpack with me at all times), then went straight home. It wasn't until I started unpacking that I realised my camera (along with a small stuffed toy - who'd steal that??) were missing.

Anyone had a similar experience? All the passengers around me looked like older, business travellers...but of course you never know. I was sleeping a fair bit so anyone from any part of the aircraft could've come and taken it while I was asleep.

I filed a report with Qantas baggage services last night (45mins wait, but to be honest I was very impressed that they were open at 7pm on a Sunday, and that I got to speak to an Aussie). They suggested I call back today (1h 15m on hold so far), and if it's not found, I'll be lodging a claim with my travel insurance.

Cameras can be replaced, but photos (I had about 50 great ones that hadn't yet been transferred) can't be.

Just thought I'd vent.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

That's pretty scarey, I usually tend to think things are pretty safe in the locker.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hope it gets resolved, a good result would be if it somehow slipped out of your bag and was at the back of the locker...

 

[Febs]

Hope it gets resolved, a good result would be if it somehow slipped out of your bag and was at the back of the locker...

That would be ideal, but I'm not too optimistic...
Cleaning staff didn't find it, and it hasn't shown up on their lost+found register...though they said to call back today and see if it's shown up.

3 hours I've been on hold so far! :shock: (No exaggeration - the timer shows 3h!)

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mal]

Hmmm.

Havn't had this type of thing happen to me, although I have wondered if it would happen so bag is always locked.

Stuffed toy theft seems weird. Makes me slightly lean towards the items falling out somehow through natural causes.

Hope it does work out. Travel insurance should help, although I'm sure they'll try to wriggle out of it somehow. Make sure you get a police report and note your Qantas reference numbers (although I really have no idea who's jurisdiction you should be filing the police report with... assume Sydney airport police? Maybe just your local station)

 

[Febs]

Havn't had this type of thing happen to me, although I have wondered if it would happen so bag is always locked.

Yeah, usually everything of value is in the locked section of my bag...but because it was full, the camera didn't fit and had to go into another section of the bag. I always lock away my laptop and passport, and usually keep the bag under my feet at all times. I only put it in the locker for longer flights.

Stuffed toy theft seems weird. Makes me slightly lean towards the items falling out somehow through natural causes.

It does sound weird, but I am very careful with my belongings. In fact, until Sunday I had never had a single item (valuable or otherwise) stolen from me, or lost. Ever. It was a big shock. In fact, people I work with usually comment on how "over protective" I am of my stuff (like locking my bag, even in the QP, for example).

The toy and the camera were both right at the top of the bag, so it wouldn't surprise me if someone just grabbed a handful in the dark. The bag was most definitely zipped up, and there's no way it could've just fallen out.

Hope it does work out. Travel insurance should help, although I'm sure they'll try to wriggle out of it somehow.

Thanks mate. The travel insurance is through work, so afaik I submit a form and then let them deal with it. I'm getting quotes for a replacement camera tomorrow, and will attach the original receipts, along with boarding passes, Qantas stolen item report number, etc...

Fingers crossed.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

Man I feel like such an idiot now. I never lock my bag and on int'l if I use my laptop for work or to watch some shows on it - I leave it lieing at my feet when I start to doze.... wallet is generally in my bag in the locker above - no lock at all...

 

[Expon]

I'm in the same boat, I never lock my bag either.....I keep my wallet on me and my mp3 in bag under the seat in front.

Actually the only time I have ever lost anything was in Bussiness class CNS - PER. I was in CNS all day and met up with a friend at the pub, I had the late flight and had consumed a few alcoholic beverages. I continued this on the flight and long story short managed to leave my ipod in the seat pocket in front. I didn't realise this until the next morning scrambling around with a terrible headache. I rang lost baggage and someone actually handed it in.

I got very lucky. But I learned a lesson, don't put anything I want to keep in the seat pocket.

Sorry to hear about your loss. I am the same way about photos but remember one thing about photos of temples and landscape, someone has prob already taken great shots and posted them of the net. Just poach them off there. If thats any consolation.

 

[NM]

I suggest you cover all bases and contact the lounge you used prior to boarding. I know you won't think so, but it just may be possible that it never made it onto the aircraft with you.

I left a jacket in a lounge once (BA lounge at EWR) and didn't realise until I could not find it in the overhead locker on arrival at LHR. My first reaction was that someone had taken it from the locker. Then on thinking back I eventually realised I didn't remember wearing it onto the plane and I know it was not in my arms, so must have left it hanging over the back of the seat in the lounge (I do remember hanging it there). Never saw it again despite BA making enquiries from London of the EWR lounge.

 

[Febs]

I suggest you cover all bases and contact the lounge you used prior to boarding. I know you won't think so, but it just may be possible that it never made it onto the aircraft with you.

Did just that straight after calling Qantas. No luck.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Skyring]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I am the same way about photos but remember one thing about photos of temples and landscape, someone has prob already taken great shots and posted them of the net. Just poach them off there. If thats any consolation.

And photoshop yourself in...

I try to keep my bag at my feet under the seat in front. That has my laptop and camera in. Travel wallet goes in the seat pocket and I'm obsessive about cleaning it out before I leave the plane.

If anything goes in the overhead locker, I try to put it in the locker opposite me, rather than above my seat.

In June I was in Y on a reasonably empty CX flight HKG-FRA and somewhere in the middle of the night I became aware of an object on the floor under my feet. I had a row to myself one back from the bulkhead, so had quite a comfy flight. This must have been one of the bits when I was watching a movie or checking the map.

Picked it up and found it was a wallet. There was AU$1100+ in it, plus cards and stuff. Thought about what to do, but eventually just kicked it back forward and when the bloke in front woke up I told him to check the floor at his feet.

In hindsight, I probably should have given it to a FA, but I figured that unless the bloke in front kicked it back again, it wasn't going anywhere else. Maybe if the pilot had stood the jumbo on its wing or something.

I was actually rather appalled at the carelessness of this chap. Not only did he let his wallet get away from him, he had a bunch of Aussie dollars. What he was going to do with them in Frankfurt, heaven knows. I very rarely have more than a hundred dollars or so on me at any one time, and usually that's in whatever currencies I have left over from my previous trips. Everything else is in plastic, because any airport shop will take Visa, and I can always find an ATM or exchange desk in an arrivals hall.

As it happened, the bloke woke and I made sure he retrieved his wallet and checked the money. I kept on imagining how I'd feel if I got off the plane, approached passport control, felt for my wallet and found it missing.

 

[simongr]

As it happened, the bloke woke and I made sure he retrieved his wallet and checked the money. I kept on imagining how I'd feel if I got off the plane, approached passport control, felt for my wallet and found it missing.

I would be looking for the guy that was in the seat behind me

 

[Skyring]

I would be looking for the guy that was in the seat behind me

Yeah!

But for a thousand bucks, hell, I might just move to another seat for the rest of the flight.

No, it's not enough to tempt me. I pick up a wallet, my fingerprints are on it. It would have to be a lot of money to make me risk being questioned by cops, searched and maybe locked up in some foreign prison. And then there's the thought that if it were a lot more money, there would be more incentive to go looking for the bloke what nicked it!

Not worth the risk.

 

[Febs]

Not worth the risk.

Nor the feeling that you've just done some (granted, careless) person out of their (probably) hard-earned $$$.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Skyring]

Nor the feeling that you've just done some (granted, careless) person out of their (probably) hard-earned $$$.

Yeah. If it was me, I'd be devastated, and I wouldn't want to inflict that on someone else. If I'd succumbed to temptation and gotten away with it, I'd feel really ****ty about it.

Maybe if it was some smartarse obnoxious cough, I'd feel different. Dunno. This bloke was your average joe.

 

[maninblack]

In June I was in Y on a reasonably empty CX flight HKG-FRA and somewhere in the middle of the night I became aware of an object on the floor under my feet. I had a row to myself one back from the bulkhead, so had quite a comfy flight. This must have been one of the bits when I was watching a movie or checking the map.

Picked it up and found it was a wallet. There was AU$1100+ in it, plus cards and stuff. Thought about what to do, but eventually just kicked it back forward and when the bloke in front woke up I told him to check the floor at his feet.

In hindsight, I probably should have given it to a FA, but I figured that unless the bloke in front kicked it back again, it wasn't going anywhere else. Maybe if the pilot had stood the jumbo on its wing or something.

I would certainly give it straight to the flight attendant, where it is in safe hands rather than sliding around the floor of the plane, they can also check the passenger list to see who it belongs to.

As to thefts, they happen in the most bizzare places, even from overhead lockers. Thieves work planes too I would imagine, not just hotels etc. There are some slimy characters around though such an act is pretty audacious. I always sleep with my wallet in my pocket and when on occassion I have worn the airline pyjamas I put it in a neat little hiding spot ...under the covers.

 

[Skyring]

I would certainly give it straight to the flight attendant, where it is in safe hands rather than sliding around the floor of the plane, they can also check the passenger list to see who it belongs to.

You're right, of course. At the time I really just wanted to get rid of it, and I figured that he'd wake up, reach down and get his wallet and never suspect it had been anywhere else but his feet. And once I'd kicked it back under his seat, I wasn't about to get down and go rummaging around underneath so I could get it back and give it to a FA.

 

[dajop]

Air NZ have a nifty little hiding spot on their J class seats - I stored my passport and wallet in the storage spot in their retractable arm rests - although was a little wary that I put asomethng across to cover the front, because the last thing I want is a wallet and passport disappearing into a seat! Don't fit a camera though, but I am pretty sure I would wake up if someone was audacious enough to reach over me and press the arm rest release button.

 

[serfty]

Air NZ have a nifty little hiding spot on their J class seats - I stored my passport and wallet in the storage spot in their retractable arm rests - although was a little wary that I put asomethng across to cover the front, because the last thing I want is a wallet and passport disappearing into a seat! Don't fit a camera though, but I am pretty sure I would wake up if someone was audacious enough to reach over me and press the arm rest release button.

:idea: BA Club World seats have a little 'glovebox' size compartment underneath the seat.

While seated it's accessible from the front by reaching down past (between/beside) your legs.

As far as I could tell; when the seat is laid flat it is completely inaccessible. Quite secure while sleeping.

 

[JohnK]

I was actually rather appalled at the carelessness of this chap. Not only did he let his wallet get away from him, he had a bunch of Aussie dollars. What he was going to do with them in Frankfurt, heaven knows....

Spending money! I know it may not be smart but some people still prefer to carry cash with them on trips and cash advances from credit cards are only a last resort.