posted 05-30-2005 07:04               

quote:

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Originally posted by mischelle:
Ok, I'm getting a little worried for the first time about my luggage. I am traveling to Cancun .

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Me too! I have always tried to be a little secure but never gave it too much thought.

posted 05-30-2005 07:46               

quote:

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Originally posted by mischelle:
Ok, I'm getting a little worried for the first time about my luggage. I am traveling to Cancun in less than two weeks.

First, I'd like to know where I can purchase these TSA locks.

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At this point, you can find the TSA approved locks in just about any store that has any type of luggage department. I've seen them at K-mart, Walmart, Sears, JCPenney's and I wouldn't be surprised if drug stores like Walgreens has them.

Most of the combination locks that have the color changing dot that shows it's been unlocked have been around $10. I've seen simple little key type locks that sell in the neighborhood of 2 for $10 but they won't show if they've been unlocked or not.

Oddly enough I hadn't thought of the really simple solution of buying a couple of extra locks and putting them in the carry on if a lock comes up missing.

posted 05-30-2005 08:06               

Solution: NEVER put anything in there other than clothes and toiletries (and avoid taking new stuff, or at a minimum, cut off the price tags and bunch/wrinkle them up).

Bigger problem is not them taking stuff, but putting drugs inside your bag when flying out of the country. If you get past the customs in the other country, then the partner steals your bag and they have the drugs. If you don't get past customs - you go to prison for a long time (Austrialian lady 27 yrs last week), and the criminals are free to do it again. Cheapest way of having mules carry the dope.

...........Peter

posted 05-30-2005 08:14               

quote:

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Originally posted by dougp26364:
At this point, you can find the TSA approved locks in just about any store that has any type of luggage department. I've seen them at K-mart, Walmart, Sears, JCPenney's and I wouldn't be surprised if drug stores like Walgreens has them.
.

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Ok I was not reading properly.. I thought that these were some type of special locks that the airports have approved and baggage checkers can access and relock. Is it so?

If you lock your bag wouldnt they clip them when they are checked? Or is that where the airport approval comes in to play and they leave it alone?
A little confused for the moment.

Now, as if having things stolen was not enough but now I have to worry about souveniers that I didn't purchse?!! How often do they run this drug mule scam? This is madness.Going to Mexico where things are corrupt already , I have much to fear.

Chelle

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posted 05-30-2005 15:14            

quote:

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Originally posted by Liz Wolf-Spada:
So far the farthest I've gone is Vancouver and I don't think CA to BC is a particularly heavy drug route, but that is really scary. How does one protect against something like that?
Liz

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One way which might be helpful is to guarantee the TSA looks inside your bag, before it goes to handling. Perhaps storing it in a closet where old rocketry stuff resides....

True story...

Chain of custody.... traveler, TSA, baggage handler, airline, baggage handler, traveler, customs. Haven't had dogs sniff our bags but would imagine it's either prior to carousel retrieval or shortly thereafter. If they found contraband, it shouldn't be too hard, via CCTV images of the baggage area, to see whether the pax put the contraband in the luggage after retrieving it, or it was there before retrieval. If the latter, evidence of the TSA being in the luggage would be hard to controvert/remove, in a smuggling scenario. I'm sure they leave evidence not readily noticeable to most people. Although not charged with finding contraband, I'm sure they'd be pretty embarrassed if a couple bricks of coke got by them, so the finger would logically point to baggage handling.

Well, it was a nice thought, anyway....if you get arrested for being a "mule", we'll put in a good word with the embassy and send nice care packages to your jail cell

With paranoia like that, combined with distrust of the baggage handling system, it's no wonder I have to fight for overhead space for my tiny carry-on these days. Seems like people bring everything but the kitchen sink onto the plane anymore.

posted 05-30-2005 18:23               

quote:

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Originally posted by mischelle:
Ok I was not reading properly.. I thought that these were some type of special locks that the airports have approved and baggage checkers can access and relock. Is it so?

If you lock your bag wouldnt they clip them when they are checked? Or is that where the airport approval comes in to play and they leave it alone?
A little confused for the moment.

Now, as if having things stolen was not enough but now I have to worry about souveniers that I didn't purchse?!! How often do they run this drug mule scam? This is madness.Going to Mexico where things are corrupt already , I have much to fear.

Chelle

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TSA approved locks have a second key entry that only the TSA suprevisors are supposed to have. You can buy the combination locks or the keyed locks and the only two people that are supposed to be getting in your bag are the TSA people or you.

You really just need to do a google search and look them up or go to the store to check them out. I suspect it will make better sense to you then.
Someone mentioned that a person that really wanted to steal you stuff would just cut the lock off. The idea here is to make it harder for the casual theif and not the person just out to steal. Cars have alarms but it doesn't stop the professional car thiefs. It does deter the neighborhood kids out looking for a joy ride.

There is nothing you can do to completely eliminate stealing but, you can take action to decrease your chances of having it happen to you. The TSA locks are one of the ways you can do this.

posted 05-30-2005 18:40               

Wonder if anyone earning 22/hr or less wants that ????

With it, I will be able to stash drugs in any bag going to any country, once stashed, I just phone the name, flight #, to my pals in variouse countries to watch for your arrival.

..............Peter

posted 05-30-2005 21:35               

quote:

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Originally posted by dbmMayer:
We never pack valuables in our check-in luggage (even before 9/11) - it's just common sense...

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Yep, what she said.

I travel with a firearm and I'm always worried about it.

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posted 05-31-2005 03:46               

quote:

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Originally posted by Northernboy:
Here is a deal, I'll offer 300,000 US to any TSA supervisor, or agent to loan me their master keys/combinations to traveller locks for 1 hour.

Wonder if anyone earning 22/hr or less wants that ????

With it, I will be able to stash drugs in any bag going to any country, once stashed, I just phone the name, flight #, to my pals in variouse countries to watch for your arrival.

..............Peter

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I've thought about that. But, while it can happen, it's unlikely to be widespread problem.

The problem is you can come up with any number of scenario's for any situation if you want to be paranoid enough about it. I guess the final solution is to just not travel by air, thus removing your exposure to the risk completely.

posted 05-31-2005 04:23               

quote:

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Originally posted by dougp26364:
I've thought about that. But, while it can happen, it's unlikely to be widespread problem.

The problem is you can come up with any number of scenario's for any situation if you want to be paranoid enough about it. I guess the final solution is to just not travel by air, thus removing your exposure to the risk completely.

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I agree but God forbid we say so and be next. For that one I'll just pray and let it go. No stress.

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posted 05-31-2005 04:25               

quote:

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Originally posted by dougp26364:
TSA approved locks have a second key entry that only the TSA suprevisors are supposed to have. You can buy the combination locks or the keyed locks and the only two people that are supposed to be getting in your bag are the TSA people or you.

You really just need to do a google search and look them up or go to the store to check them out. I suspect it will make better sense to you then.
Someone mentioned that a person that really wanted to steal you stuff would just cut the lock off. The idea here is to make it harder for the casual theif and not the person just out to steal. Cars have alarms but it doesn't stop the professional car thiefs. It does deter the neighborhood kids out looking for a joy ride.

There is nothing you can do to completely eliminate stealing but, you can take action to decrease your chances of having it happen to you. The TSA locks are one of the ways you can do this.

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Thanks, now I understand the difference.

Chelle