Theft from Domestic Carousels in Australia

[ethernet]

1) Quite a few people tie a sock/ribbon, or some other gaudy rag to their suitcase to stop accidents. Good idea is your suitcase is black and squarish. And contact details and passport id inside.

2) Being photographed. Yes they do have photos, but IF someone can act or follows up in a timely manner , is another matter.

3) It comes down to money. Why should say SACL employ 12+ or more staff to sort out low risk, should be insurable matters, when they can hand it off at best to the 'police'. 3rd world airports would have a different risk profile, but as Japan has it, Australia is just making travel and first impressions 'cheap'

4) I am pretty sure there would be no color and action on a common lost bag, and are not game to quip 'too bad it was chock full of tablets I was supposed to deliver' to raise it to an actionable priority.

5) Global GSM trackers are <$ 50 heading down. Possible application. But with mobile detectors, may also make your bag a target for savvy thieves.

6) I think the RIGHT question is to ask what is the theft/missing rate at each airport, but don't know if those numbers are available to determine risk.

 

[stroudie]

I have no problem with providing proof that I am the owner of the luggage claimed from the carousel.
I first encountered this in Russia some 10 years ago. It got me thinking about our's & other countries lack of security involved in just picking up a bag & leaving.

 

[fersea]

i can't believe no one has mentioned all the CCTV cameras at airports. I am sure you may be a chance to get away wiht it once, but I would have thought serial theft would be pretty easy to catch.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I think that, given the speed (or the lack of which) of the baggage handling system, all pax would be out at the belt waiting even before the belt starts rolling...

 

[SeatBackForward]

i can't believe no one has mentioned all the CCTV cameras at airports. I am sure you may be a chance to get away wiht it once, but I would have thought serial theft would be pretty easy to catch.

CCTV records theft, different to preventing it.

 

[Zaldiva]

Security at the carousel is laughable in the context of overall Australian airport security. On departure travelers are treated as though they’re all terror suspects; luggage screened, random pat downs & explosive detection wands on hand and God forbid you have a cigar cutter, knitting needles, nail clippers or some other inoffensive item on your person and all the while considered to be a major risk to airline security & safety until the ex - shopping trolley collector disguised as a “security” expert deems you safe & no threat and you're free to enter the hallowed halls of the departure lounges. Now I ask, if security is such a major concern, why aren’t similar security measures in place where hundreds of people are gathered at one time, anytime, all day long i.e. the luggage carousel? Anybody can freely enter an airport, armed with an AK47, (or even a nail file), without so much as a second look and cause absolute havoc if they care to or place an unattended suitcase on a carousel. Announcements urge us to not leave luggage etc unattended, be on the alert for suspicious packages what ever they might be and all this nonsense after you check in yet the greatest risk to security is prior to check-in or within the arrivals / departures public area. How many unattended suitcases circle the carousel without as much as a second look? If the idiots who dreamed up airport security are so concerned about traveler safety and other motherhood statements then why isn’t every person entering an airport for any reason not screened by security?

 

[oz_mark]

6) I think the RIGHT question is to ask what is the theft/missing rate at each airport, but don't know if those numbers are available to determine risk.

This is a very valid question. Another would be about how much people would be prepared to pay to have
1) The airports modified to allow this checking
2) People doing the checking.

Keep in mind that if such a system gets implemented, the costs associated will simply be passed on to the travellers.

Also, I would think, if it works as 'efficiently' as the rest of the baggage reclaim system currently does, it will just cause further delays and make people take even more stuff on board in carry-on.

 

[Blackadder]

I think that, given the speed (or the lack of which) of the baggage handling system, all pax would be out at the belt waiting even before the belt starts rolling...

Domestically probably yes, not so for International.

Coming back on QF 12 last weekend and travelling in Y+, even with the express immigration card the carousel was going before I got there.:shock:

 

[Tassie]

I had an interesting experience with luggaage a few years ago at LAX. Made a mistake on my I94 and had to re-write it, so got to luggage carousel when there where only a few bags left. One was identical bag to mine (Samsonite type duffel - quite unusual) and with the same rainbow webbing strap around it, but I noticed it had different colour luggage labels. I called the baggage attendant over and said that obviously someone else had taken my bag by mistake. We saw that it had a connecting flight label on it, so he said mine would be OK as they would just have taken it through and put it on the conveyor belt for connecting flights (only a few metres in most LAX terminals). I asked if I should take this bag through but he said absolutely not because it may have something prohibited in it. He then went to walk off but I asked him to at least call to the desk where their connecting flight was so they would know their bag was still in customs. He picked up the phone but I don't know if he called or if the other person found their bag. Mine arrived exactly where it should have. Now I always have 3 means of identifying my bag - usually a coloured strap, luggage label and ribbon.

 

[Flashback]

Domestically probably yes, not so for International.

Coming back on QF 12 last weekend and travelling in Y+, even with the express immigration card the carousel was going before I got there.:shock:

Obviously weren't flying into LHR then Thanks to the Olympics, I was straight through passport control in less than 2 minutes .. however, was a lengthy wait for the bags to start coming out!

 

[fersea]

CCTV records theft, different to preventing it.

Which prevents repeat offenders plus gives a detterent to would be offenders.

 

[mannej]

Which prevents repeat offenders plus gives a detterent to would be offenders.

Nice logic, but doesn't always work that way.

 

[drron]

Luggage certainly can be stolen from carousels but unfortunately there are many other ways for theft to occur.An overview from the states-
The causes and the truth behind Mishandled Luggage

And JFK made the news earlier this year-
JFK airport sees more than 200 items stolen every DAY from checked baggage | Mail Online

And there was the case in Phoenix where 1000 bags + were stolen-
1,000 Pieces of Luggage Stolen at Phoenix Airport - CBS News

Having started flying to the USA over 30 years ago I remember the time it was commonplace to have your luggage tags checked before you left airports there.
I myself have had 3 incidents of tampered baggage.
First flying DFW-LAX-sign inside bag saying checked by TSA and bottle of perfume missing-couldn't be carried on due to LAG restrictions.
Second SVO-BUD on MA.Only 1 bag arrived,told second bag was left behind and would be on next flight-was delivered to hotel later that night even though no other service arriving from any Moscow airport that night.Bag had been gone through but nothing missing-contained approx 2 weeks washing!
Third on this trip.Flying AMM-IST on arrival lock had been cut away from both bags.Again obviously had been gone throughh-a mess.Only thing missing a fabric sample mrsdrron wanted to compare here in Bangkok-probably fell out and no one noticed.
On these last 2 occasions the thought has also entered my head that our bags may have been used as couriers.

With all the ways theft can occur I doubt doing anymore in the way of carousel checks would acheive anything.

 

[kirstyoz]

CCTV cameras actually have a very low impact on crime solution, believe it or not. The resolution usually is not sufficient to generate a really good image for identification and even if they do, they have to get lucky that someone will a) see the picture and b) be willing to identify the crook. Only chance is if they get lucky with catching a car rego and even them, most smart-ish crooks steal the car they use to commit crimes with. And have you seen how AU airport security DOESN'T pay attention lol? I'm not sure they could identify serial theft even if it was in front of them every day...

 

[kirstyoz]

Which prevents repeat offenders plus gives a detterent to would be offenders.

Logical law abiding people see this as a deterrent. Offenders not so much, especially if their criminal activities are motivated by drug addiction / gambling/ other issue which makes them desperate. I understand your logic but I have spent years working with offenders who usually have a very different world view and sense of what motivates them.

 

[Kangol]

I own an old style Samsonite 29' inch luggage, where the color is turning from grey / silver to greenish, and you have to pull from a handle.

So I always take a luggage tag at the check in counter (every airline give you one), write my name on it, then tie it to the main handle, so anyone who tries to pull it would end up grabbing the tag, and will see my name on it. No mistaking.

I don't think anyone would want to pull a handle with the label "Chicken" on it

 

[JohnK]

I forget the details now but a few years ago a family took my bag off the carousel and started to leave with it. Lucky I saw my bag and stopped them. Not sure if bags were similar and it was a genuine mistake but it can happen.

When I visited the Brisbane luggage centre a couple of years ago to get a replacement for a damaged bag managed to get into a conversation about theft from carousels. They mentioned that it did happen regularly and more than likely the bag taken would be in the first 6 or so bags out onto the carousel. The reason is that most times there are only a few people there when the first bags come out and more than likely the bags' owner had not yet arrived at the carousel.

It makes sense so if you have checked bags make sure you get to carousel before bags come out or make sure bags are not tagged priority. Not sure where it leaves me on domestic flights as most times I let my bag go round and round the carousel while I am visiting the lounge after the flight.

 

[Awesom Andy]

make sure bags are not tagged priority.

Or if you are flying QF, make sure your bags are tagged priority. It's an almost fool-proof guarantee of having your bag last out at the carousel.

 

[Skyring]

My bags are both big and bright yellow. Still in one piece despite very tough lives. Never had anyone even try to take them off the carousel, and the only time there was any confusion at all was when returning to SYD after a long trip I spotted a bright yellow bag of the exact same make and lifted it off the belt. First thought was "Geez, they really gave it the treatment this time!" and second thought was "They must have shrunk it, too" before I checked the tags and put it back on. It was the same model as mine, but a Large instead of an Extra Large.

That's the only problem, and trust me, I've spent far too much of my life standing watching bags go round and round. I'm very grateful to everyone else for buying identical black bags. Thank you.

 

[monoccular]

Or if you are flying QF, make sure your bags are tagged priority. It's an almost fool-proof guarantee of having your bag last out at the carousel.

You just beat me too it.

QF Priotiry tagging certainly does NOT mean they are first off. Quite often last and sometimes sadly not at all.

Mine was "missed" on a BNE MEL flight and the baggage folk said it must be on the next flight and they would forarwd it later.....then mysteriously as I was en route home, before the next flight arrived they phoned and said it was on its way by courier. No explanation ....and no tampering.

It did have a new Q tag which I no longer use for multisector flights.