Slashdot Log In
TSA Employee Caught With $200K Worth of Stolen Property
Posted by
Soulskill
on Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:16 PM
from the if-at-first-you-succeed,-try,-try-again-until-you-don't dept.
from the if-at-first-you-succeed,-try,-try-again-until-you-don't dept.
The plane moves me or I move the plane? writes "After years of people complaining about their luggage locks being broken in the name of the Transportation Security Administration, and after countless properly-stowed utilities and tools had been scrutinized from a paranoid point of view, an employee of the TSA (which is part of the Department of Homeland Security) has been captured with evidence of over $200,000 worth of stolen property he was selling on eBay. With the help of local police and the USPS, a search of his house found a great deal of property pilfered from the un-witnessed searches that occurred after luggage had been checked, where the rightful owner was not allowed. 'Among the items seized were 66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, 20 cell phones, 17 sets of electronic games, 13 pieces of jewelry, 12 GPS devices, 11 MP3 players, eight camera lenses, six video cameras and two DVD players, the affidavit said.'"
Related Stories
Submission: One of many USDHS TSA employees caught on theft. by Anonymous Coward
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
jesus christ.
i'm mailing my shit next time.
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Funny)
66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, 20 cell phones, 17 sets of electronic games, 13 pieces of jewelry, 12 GPS devices, 11 MP3 players, eight camera lenses, six video cameras and two DVD players
$200K? That can't be right. 11 MP3's are worth that much according to the RIAA.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Interesting)
You also face import tariff in almost any country if you ship certain items. That can make it very expensive.
Soon, it is only going to be safe and easy to take whatever you can carry in your pockets or shove up your ass.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Funny)
Soon, it is only going to be safe and easy to take whatever you can carry in your pockets or shove up your ass.
So you're saying that the watch my dad wore in Vietnam is the only thing safe when I'm traveling?
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Funny)
You shove your laptop, camera and phone up your ass?
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Funny)
You can see up your ass?
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
which is why my laptop, camera, and phone never leave my sight.
You don't have a choice. The TSA has the authority to seize anything. You either give it to them or get arrested and they take it anyway.
The issue here is that instead of following procedure and putting the items in the TSA system, the agent decided to keep them. This is not new. I remember, as a kid, reading about about a customs agent caught keeping items he had seized. Legally. The government charged him with stealing government property. The items in question where never returned to their original owners.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
what i mean is, they don't go into checked luggage, they go with me as carry-on.
and yes, i know that they can do whatever the fuck they want and get away with it.
but what really burns my ass (other than the obvious bullshit with the TSA) is the increasing authoritarianism in the US. and what else really gets me is that people in other countries criticize Americans for this as if we had some say-so in the matter.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course they do. You, personally, might not have voted for the incomptents that are pushing for this sort of thing/not actively working to make it illegal... But many of your peers did.
I'd say that in at LEAST 2/3rds of the conversations I've ever had with Americans about the 2nd amendment, they bring up the idea that a well armed populace will keep the government from doing illegal things, because the populace will call them to account.
I'm not suggesting that shooting people is the appropriate response to luggage being stolen, but I've never once gotten a satisfactory answer as to what will cause the people to rise up. It seems to me that the ability to own shitloads of guns hasn't been used very effectively over the history of the USA to enforce the constitution or the rights of human beings. It still might in the future, but I'm not optimistic. As long as American Idol is still playing, and Walmart is still selling clothes for cheap, the vast majority of the American people seem unwilling to risk their own comfortable lives over things like the contitution, their rights or more particularly, the rights of others.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
The summary is trying to make this about "un-witnessed searches," but this is about dishonest transport employees.
...who only have the opportunity/incentive to be dishonest because of the "un-witnessed searches", yes?
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
We weren't prevented from locking our baggage until a few years ago.
Parent
Re:thieves standing around (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, it used to be that you could carry on all your most valuable items and be able to travel with some degree of personal property security because you were personally in charge of it.
Today the less you carry on, the less hassle you get. Problem now is that everything you check is likely to be rummaged. I've lost diving gear without recourse. Kind of a pain.
I have little interest in traveling by air anymore for just this reason. The less you carry, the better chance of you arriving. I don't think there is any real security considering. For $200,000 from one person, I wonder just how many travelors are victims of robbery there are since HSA versus the number of travelors turned victims from terrorists.
Parent
Yes, you can lock your luggage. (Score:5, Informative)
You're not prevented from locking your luggage. The TSA doesn't want you to lock your luggage because they're searching it after you check it. Therefore, locking it makes it difficult for them. However, if you lock it, they'll deal with it. You might not like the way they deal with it, but they'll deal with it and you've broken no law by locking your luggage. TSA does offer a compromise; you can use one of those locks they have keys to. It's not foolproof; there have been lots of reports of those locks being destroyed. However, it's worth a shot.
Some of us have been forced to learn the ins and outs of this crap in more detail than we wish. If, like me, you travel with firearms, you'll learn that the FAA is statutorily in charge of what can and can't be checked and the TSA can't order me to do anything that violates FAA regs. FAA regs mandate that luggage with firearms must be locked. Period.
There are some tips and tricks for dealing with this situation but they're beyond the scope of this discussion. My point is simply that it's incorrect to say that we're "prevented" from locking our baggage. We most assuredly are not.
Parent
flying sux (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Funny)
But Ebay is great: A++++ seller, would buy from him again!
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Insightful)
Just curious - will they actually have the right to inspect your property (open your bags) without you being present if you look at it from the strict view of what the constitution says?
More specific the Fourth Amendment [usconstitution.net].
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Of course - X-raying wasn't on the list when that amendment was written, but that should be OK, but as soon as the property is to be opened I would like to first have a warrant and then also be able to contest that before any proceeding.
Has there ever been a court verdict saying that the fourth amendment isn't valid here?
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Interesting)
You waive your rights when you purchase your ticket.
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Interesting)
You cannot waive your constitutional rights (or ammendments therein)
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Insightful)
What are you smoking? A Miranda warning spells out your rights, then asks if you wish to waive them. How much more expicit does it need to get?
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Insightful)
But you forget. It is a voluntary search as you give them permission by boarding. They will say that you did not have to enter the boarding areas that are usually clearly marked.
Oops that still is the rule in Canada but in the US it is no longer the case http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/08/court-says-trav.html [wired.com] as you pretty much cannot enter the airport without automatically agreeing to be searched at any time.
Oh well, if you drive or take the bus or train you still have some rights that are upheld. But to get people to refuse to fly and hurt the airline industry in a way that makes them listen probably will not happen.
This still leaves private aircraft.
Parent
Re:flying sux (Score:5, Funny)
Cheer up. At least you don't get tased to death.
Parent
Who watches (Score:5, Interesting)
(But who is to guard the guardians?)
Juvenal, Satires, circa 120 AD
Told to F-O (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Told to F-O (Score:5, Insightful)
Furthermore, I don't quite see why this is that terribly hard to handle properly. All the searches (yes ALL of them) should be videotaped and the videos held for a duration significantly long enough to permit any traveler to file a claim against any loss. This should be codified into law and rigorously enforced by independent oversight.
Why is this hard?
Yes, I realize the difficulties this would pose of documenting everything everyone is carrying. But this seems inevitable anyway given where we seem to be headed.
There needs to be a deep shift in perception away from the idea that the TSA polices us to the concept that they WORK FOR us. In the same vein, a transition is needed from the idea that we are all criminals to the idea that they are as well. Indeed, if the TSA has nothing to hide surely they wouldn't mind such oversight...
Parent
Re:Told to F-O (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Let me say this: I am shocken, truly SHOCKED, ... (Score:5, Funny)
one arrest won't even dent this plague (Score:5, Interesting)
These are the modern day (government approved) highwaymen and the only solution I can think of is to label them socially ("you work in airport security? oh dear - is that the time already ...") as the pariahs they really are.
I don't understand... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I don't understand... (Score:5, Insightful)
...why the TSA is allowed to open up packages without the presence of the owner of said packages. If they were forced to page the owner to come back and observe the TSA performing a screening on the contents, that would cut down a lot on the opportunity for this type of theft to occur. If the owner doesn't respond to the page from the TSA, then the package simply is not allowed onboard is a fair policy I think. Also, make sure that the TSA personnel are required to fill out paperwork for every package they page the owners for will cut down on abuse of powers as well.
That's some good thinkin you got there....almost a little too good. You're a witc...er terrorist!
Parent
The guy did a great job of keeping our kids safe (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine all the photographs of naked children that could be taken with 66 cameras.
Imagine all the child porn that could be download/stored/viewed using 31 laptop computers.
Imagine all the phone calls paedophiles could make with 20 cell phones.
Imagine all the children that could be lured into a paedophiles house with 17 sets of electronic games, and 13 pieces of jewellery.
Imagine all the children that could be tracked with 12 GPS devices.
Imagine all the children that could be deafened by paedophiles letting children use 11 MP3 players at high volume.
Imagine the sick movies made and viewed using six video cameras and two DVD players.
And the eight camera lenses......dear God the eight camera lenses!!!
Tip of the iceberg? (Score:5, Interesting)
I remember reading a statistic recently citing that over 100,000 laptops were "lost or stolen" within the realm of airline travel. Now I wonder how many of these occurrences are inside jobs.
Re:Tip of the iceberg? (Score:5, Interesting)
I have never, ever trusted TSA enough to put a laptop in my checked baggage when on a business trip.
In some cities, TSA has gotten so rude. Just went through Denver and organization was a mess, helpful signage was sparse to none, and yet somehow they expected passengers to go through security like little inerring automatons. At one point, I had to try to juggle two bins carring my laptop and briefcase (along with a jacket) so that the TSA worker there could replace the stack of bins underneath with a fresh stack of bins. As the passenger next to me said, "Was that really necessary?" Well, who cares? Inconveniencing the flying public is at the heart of their job.
As bad as Denver was, Philly is the worst. The contempt for passengers is thick in the air. I half expect cattle prods to make their appearance there within the next two years.
Parent
Wow (Score:5, Insightful)
I guess TSA Gangstaz [youtube.com] (NSFW!) was actually a documentary then...
This increases safety and security by ... ? (Score:5, Insightful)
I remember clearly the latter half of September 2001. Of course there were the plastic flags flying from almost every motor vehicle, but what stands out for me is the memory of how I kept scanning the horizon for explosions when I was driving.
I didn't feel safe. Not that I'd ever been safe, but my perception had always been so.
The thing that still puzzles me, though, is how we in the US have tolerated such a rapid erosion of civil liberty. It's not that our documented rights and freedoms haven't been violated all along, but now there are legal provisions--and already some legal precedent--to protect and justify such violations.
Sure, sure, human psychology, thinking with the fear centers of our brains, even the Milgram Experiment--these and more describe how we react to a perceived threat. And fear is known to reduce the blood supply to the brain.
I find it sad to consider that this particular finding will have no effect on the encroachment on human rights in these United States. I suppose this man is just one "bad apple." Like the cases of the prosecuted torturers at Abu Ghraib (and other locations), the years-later finding that the illegal and shocking techniques were known and even encouraged by the entire organization will have no effect on the policies which shall remain in place.
Hey! That's my MacBook (Score:5, Insightful)
but I am comforted to learn from the article that:
I read that as
"CLOSE TO THREE HUNDRED EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN TERMINATED FOR THEFT!"
The best part... (Score:5, Insightful)
The best part of the article is near the end. Something along the line of "Don't worrie, crimes like these are REALLY rare. Only about 300 TSA employees have ever been fired for theft".
300 employees fired for theft. If you read the article (i know, i know...) the only reason this guy got caught was because he's a retard (putting his return address on the stuff he sells, always using the same name on ebay, etc). So if 300 were caught, there's probably several times that many. Then you add that the TSA has like 40-45 thousand employees... and that adds up to 2/3rd of a percent of their total workforce (of course, the 300 figure is over time, but its still interesting to put the numbers in perspective).
Thats just insane. It takes only one person to steal enough to really ruins some people's days. And here you have -hundreds- (just the ones that were caught!!!). I'll suffer through GreyHound busses, thank you.
Homeland security.... (Score:5, Insightful)
... sorry but this shit just ain't acceptable.
Its another of a long and growing list of government abuses that are easily amounting to be worse than the terrorism its supposed to be protecting us from.
"Those who sacrifice freedom in exchange for security, will have neither."
who said that?
Look at the numbers! (Score:5, Insightful)
465 transportation security officers have been terminated for theft since May 1, 2003
Does anyone find this a little extreme? That's a little over one firing for theft every 4 days!
Makes one wonder...
Oh the irony (Score:5, Insightful)
The actions of a few individuals in no way reflect on the outstanding job our more than 43,000 security officers do every day to ensure the security of the traveling public," she said.
I'm of South Asian ethnicity and have a few Middle Eastern friends. We're all used to getting the secondary protocol at the airport due to our last names. Funny how they say a few bad TSA employees shouldn't reflect upon the other employees, yet they treat anyone with a brown shade of skin as a criminal.
The real moral of the story (Score:5, Insightful)
But this summer, Brown got too ambitious for his own good, allegedly stealing a $47,900 camera from an HBO crew and a camcorder from a CNN employee, authorities said.
Steal from Joe Sixpack and Lizzy Hockeymom all you want. But don't screw with corporate media!
Cameras in the inspection area (Score:5, Interesting)
If I were in charge of things, there'd be security cameras recording the inspectors. Also, each inspector who opened a bag would be required to stamp his/her identity number on a tag affixed to the bag. If anything was reported missing, those inspectors would be the first ones looked at, particularly if their id number shows up on a lot of bags with missing items.
Re:I buy cheap luggage (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:Tis the season.. (Score:5, Funny)
I'd rather have someone respond than be modded up.
Your post was funny.
Parent
Re:Government sanctioned theft. (Score:5, Interesting)
I previously read on /. a method of shipping your camera gear safely.
A reader had said he'd purchased a larger aluminum suitcase / roadcase, with foam cutouts for his camera gear, and a flare gun.
Upon arriving at the airport, he'd declare he had a weapon, and check the suitcase as a weapon. It got stored, handled and inspected differently, and he never had any loses.
Seems to make sense to me...
Parent
Re:Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Score:5, Interesting)
And if nobody was supervising him to make sure he didn't steal things, what was to prevent him from introducing dangerous items into the luggage?
How hard would it be for someone with ill intent to get a TSA job?
Parent
Re:A perfectly good argument... (Score:5, Interesting)
... for traveling light. Avoid checking any luggage at all, carry on only! Not only do you save time by not having to wait around for your luggage (which may never arrive) at the belt, but you can also stay within view of your gear.
This works fine for me when I go on short personal trips, but most of the time I find it's not just not practical. I'm always carrying something prohibited. The carry-on restrictions with regards to liquids finally pushed me over the edge. I wear contacts, use hair gel, like deodorant, prefer to brush my teeth and actually shave. This pushes me beyond the one small clear bag that I can hold up while some goon pretends to be able to tell if it's potentially explosive.
Then there's the problem that when I travel for work, I'm usually carrying a firearm. Even if I'm not, being from southern Ohio I never go anywhere without my trusty pocket knife (which has to be checked).
Believe it or not I was once told by a TSA supervisor that by having a gun in my luggage I'm probably least likely to be ripped off. Since it's in a locked case in my suitcase, presumably the thief would think it's valuable and try to bust it open. Upon finding it's a gun if he's smart he'll close it up and run away. If I get to my destination and find my gun is missing, unlike say a stolen iPod, both airports will likely go on lockdown until it can be accounted for. Even a $7.00 hour grunt realizes that everybody down there will be searched and all the video tape will be immediately reviewed. As an added bonus, TSA hand screens my checked luggage in front of me when I check in. They then seal it up with the "Passed TSA Security" sticker while I stand there. Theoretically it then goes straight to the airline and bypasses the other checked luggage that has to be screened by some unknown down below.
Parent