Theft in lounges - how frequent?

[outthere1000]

Last month I was in the Qantas Domestic Club lounge at SYD for a couple of hours, between Canada and Adelaide, sitting in a far corner with very few other people around. I left my backpack at my seat for a few minutes while I went to the toilet/get food. I later discovered that someone - and I'm fairly sure it was the young woman sitting two seats away from me - had accessed my wallet, removed all the Australian cash (coins included) and carefully replaced my wallet again. Only cash taken, no cards or anything else in the backpack. Given that I often see phones and laptops left unattended, especially when being charged, I wondered how often theft occurs in lounges? Has it happened to anyone else? (After multiple phone calls, Qantas just told me to report it to Mascot Police Station.)

 

[jrfsp]

did you ask if there is any cctv?

 

[VPS]

I have left handbags phones keys etc in lounges often and never heard of any theft. What a PITA - was it of much value?

I would also ask for CCTV

 

[sudoer]

I'm sure Qantas will only hand CCTV over to the police anyway so their advice to contact the cops is reasonable.

 

[Lynda2475]

I would proceed with a police report, as then they can request any CCTV footage available.

Whilst I will leave a jacket or locked carry-on case unattended to reserve a seat to get a drink/food in a lounge, I always take my handbag (on my shoulder so hands are free) with me thus ensuring my most valuables (wallet, phone, passport, tablet) are not at risk.

 

[outthere1000]

I have left handbags phones keys etc in lounges often and never heard of any theft. What a PITA - was it of much value?

I would also ask for CCTV

It wasn't more than $130, just for handy cash. My passport and remaining cash is in a neck pouch I never take off. Never leave my phone unattended either - ever.
Qantas does have CCTV footage but would only hand it over to police. And I'm wondering if the police would bother ploughing through 2.5 hours or so of CCTV over a theft of $130. (Though I'd love to get the thief banned from the lounge permanently.)

 

[sudoer]

I'm wondering if the police would bother ploughing through 2.5 hours or so of CCTV over a theft of $130. (Though I'd love to get the thief banned from the lounge permanently.)

It looks like NSW Police actually has an Airport "station". Can't imagine they deal with much more than petty theft and assaults considering AFP also have a significant presence.

Airport Policing - NSW Police Public Site

www.police.nsw.gov.au

If you tell them Qantas has CCTV evidence surely they'll at least reach out.

My only advice is to do this ASAP if you want to take it any further. A lot of CCTV systems will overwrite their footage after X days/weeks. If this occurred last month, the clock is definitely ticking.

 

[outthere1000]

It looks like NSW Police actually has an Airport "station". Can't imagine they deal with much more than petty theft and assaults considering AFP also have a significant presence.

Airport Policing - NSW Police Public Site

www.police.nsw.gov.au

If you tell them Qantas has CCTV evidence surely they'll at least reach out.

My only advice is to do this ASAP if you want to take it any further. A lot of CCTV systems will overwrite their footage after X days/weeks. If this occurred last month, the clock is definitely ticking.

Yes indeed - thanks for the reminder. BTW, Qantas definitely told me to contact Mascot Police, not airport police (and I got them to confirm Mascot).

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Yes indeed - thanks for the reminder. BTW, Qantas definitely told me to contact Mascot Police, not airport police (and I got them to confirm Mascot).

What you say Qantas was it some from the Philippines who has never been to Sydney?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Guess there is no more scruples between people in the lounges anymore.
I have left things there, eg, battery banks etc, but always taken phones with me.

But truth be told, I have seen some very iffy characters in the lounges more so of late, ie, in one Dec, this lady was quaffing champaign, in casual clothes, and kept coughing her head off, ... didnt look like a business lady, more so got a lounge invite.
Sorry, but no help, maybe AFP is more so into aviation security than community policing in the airport.

 

[Mattg]

It wasn't more than $130, just for handy cash. My passport and remaining cash is in a neck pouch I never take off. Never leave my phone unattended either - ever.
Qantas does have CCTV footage but would only hand it over to police. And I'm wondering if the police would bother ploughing through 2.5 hours or so of CCTV over a theft of $130. (Though I'd love to get the thief banned from the lounge permanently.)

Please report it to the police. If this person gets charged, or even just banned from the lounge, it'll make the lounge a safer place for the rest of us in the future.

I must admit, I don't really think about this happening in airport lounges and often leave my stuff at my table for a few minutes while going to the buffet/bathroom/etc.

 

[CaptJCool]

At least the CCTV will see who might have pilfered the cash.

Might end up being a person you least expected ….

 

[andye]

I regularly leave things unattended in lounges. I think you'd have to be a pretty dumb thief to do this in an international lounge but I suppose the chances of getting away with it in a domestic one are higher

 

[jase05]

I always leave my phone and/or tablet on the table charging whilst I go to the bar or toilet in domestic lounges and often my bag with wallet etc too.
Overseas though we pretty much travel together these days so one of us will stay with our stuff and we take it in turns to go to the toilet or get F&B

 

[outthere1000]

Please report it to the police. If this person gets charged, or even just banned from the lounge, it'll make the lounge a safer place for the rest of us in the future.

I must admit, I don't really think about this happening in airport lounges and often leave my stuff at my table for a few minutes while going to the buffet/bathroom/etc.

You're right, and I've reported it this morning. It had to be reported via the NSW Police Online Portal. I too would like to see this person banned.

 

[SOPOOR]

I was in a few premium lounges recently for a trip.and my paranoid mother raised us to hold on to wallets/passports etc for dear life and never leave anything unattended.

But as i sat in the lounge i thought, no full time thief would ever be in a lounge because you need a ticket, add to that if its a business/first, you're most likely be wealthier and less likely to steal,
Add to that there are cameras everywhere

The only likely risk is someone walking past and seeing an unattended wallet/phone, so now i take my phone/wallet with me to the toilet, i leave my laptop, power bank, charger

Maybe im naive

 

[Dmac59]

I was in a few premium lounges recently for a trip.and my paranoid mother raised us to hold on to wallets/passports etc for dear life and never leave anything unattended.

But as i sat in the lounge i thought, no full time thief would ever be in a lounge because you need a ticket, add to that if its a business/first, you're most likely be wealthier and less likely to steal,
Add to that there are cameras everywhere

The only likely risk is someone walking past and seeing an unattended wallet/phone, so now i take my phone/wallet with me to the toilet, i leave my laptop, power bank, charger

Maybe im naive

I'm very similar to you @SOPOOR in that I am very trusting of 'fellow passengers that frequent lounges'.
Whilst I leave my iPad charging and backpack on chair when visiting washrooms or F&B areas, I always take my iPhone and wallet/passport with me.

 

[Seat0B]

Me too @SOPOOR. If travelling alone, I take phone and handbag with me when I leave the table. I put tablet and laptop into a computer bag which I leave as a table holder, along with a coat and back pack if I have one. When travelling with Mr Seat 0A, we just take turns.

 

[Lynda2475]

But as i sat in the lounge i thought, no full time thief would ever be in a lounge because you need a ticket, add to that if its a business/first, you're most likely be wealthier and less likely to steal,
Add to that there are cameras everywhere

Plenty of thieves are opportunistic (not professional).

Not everyone is wealthy and has paid a premium to be in those lounges, they could be on an employer funded trip, be using a lounge pass or have been guested in, won a trip etc. They could be lowly paid staff who have sussed out a camera blind spot.

Why tempt / give them an opportunity?

Maybe im naive

A little perhaps.

 

[Melburnian1]

Please report it to the police. If this person gets charged, or even just banned from the lounge, it'll make the lounge a safer place for the rest of us in the future.

I must admit, I don't really think about this happening in airport lounges and often leave my stuff at my table for a few minutes while going to the buffet/bathroom/etc.

It's a pain to take everything with one when going to the toilet in an airline lounge, as occasionally someone else may have pinched one's seat by the time one returns.

My trusty backpack is easily slung. I take it with me at all times, including when on trains and visiting the buffet/dining car.