DSE - news about your tsa problems

apit34356 wrote on 3/3/2005, 6:25 PM
DSE, here is a news article from the DetroitNews about the TSA workers being indicted for stealing laptops. This has been of a big interest to ABC and FOX news. Since you were a victum too, I thought you would like to check it out.


From the Detroit News Article;
The last of four former security screeners indicted on charges they stole thousands of dollars in goods from suitcases at Detroit Metropolitan Airport has agreed to plead guilty.

Previously, three other Transportation Security Administration screeners pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to stealing laptop computers, cameras and game consoles from passengers' bags at Detroit Metro and then selling them to employees in an airport break room.

During a four-month period, two TSA workers stole at least 20 items from checked bags of passengers who had arrived from international destinations.

Tawann Hayes, 22, of Westland and Shawn Gordon, 22, of Southfield were accused of the theft. Hayes is scheduled to plead guilty on March 10, court records show.

Gordon pleaded guilty on Jan.27 to three counts of the indictment, admitting to conspiring to steal goods worth more than $10,000 and involving more than 10 victims. Under a plea agreement, Gordon faces up to 18 months in prison and a fine up to $30,000.

Joseph Reynolds, 47, of Detroit also pleaded guilty. The fourth man, Edwin Sturdivant, 22, of Detroit helped take stolen computers and cameras out of the airport. Under a plea agreement, he faces 10 to 16 months in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.

"This was a big lapse in judgment," said Thomas W. Jakuc, a lawyer for Sturdivant.
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How it happened

• When two employees screened the bags, a light went off alerting them an electronic item was inside, allowing them to search the bag out of camera range.

• The pair then placed the item in a personal backpack.

• Passengers didn't know the items were missing until they arrived at their final destinations, and then had no way of knowing where the items were stolen.
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Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/3/2005, 6:38 PM
Glad to hear that they were caught, and found guilty...but unfortunately that doesn't help folks that were ripped off. I'm still dealing with 2 airports and thefts. And expect more. In all the things that have been stolen/broken, I've yet to receive one thin dime (or a thick one) from the TSA. They've got a great racket going. Break, destroy, steal, and not be responsible. The government is great at shuck/jive/deny/hide.
But thank you for sharing. I've wanted to do a vid about these guys ala Saturday Night Live, but you can't even get a permit to shoot in the airport any longer, not in the security zones. Heck, starting in 2 weeks, you won't be able to carry small cans of compressed air to clean your lenses, and won't be able to carry cigarette lighters any more.
I sure wish Gene Rodenberry's predictions would have come true. I could use a transporter when it comes to travel.
apit34356 wrote on 3/3/2005, 7:00 PM
Are you looking for current footage or are you wanting do your own ? I maybe able to help with the Detroit Metro airport, if your interested. I have some of contacts with the TSA and know some of the management of the Metro airport and a number of other airports. Of course, they do not want to be made to look like fools on national TV.
goshep wrote on 3/3/2005, 7:35 PM
I assume a locking case that is effective enough to deter theft would draw further attention from the screeners. Enough even to possibly exclude your case from being loaded. It's a no win situation.
We have people pouring unchecked across every border yet we feel safer by banning BIC lighters and canned air from airplanes. Not to mention we have people unscrupulous enough to steal baggage for a few bucks who have complete access to cargo holds of aircraft. What's to stop them from putting something ON the plane for money? Shhesh. I'm getting further off topic....sorry.
That sucks about your stuff Spot. Good luck with your compensation efforts.

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/3/2005, 7:53 PM
You must not fly. It's against the law to lock anything. You can buy "TSA" locks that only the TSA is allegedly capable of opening to prevent baggage handlers from stealing, but the TSA can get in whenever they wish. Problem is, sometimes you get a TSA person who hasn't been trained in the new TSA approved locks, so they cut them off anyway. So, you cannot lock anything. If you tape latches to prevent the latches from being damaged by the belts and carousels, they rip the tape off and don't replace it. They are supposed to put things back where they found them, but they rarely do. I once had a number of shirts damaged by them leaving my toiletry case unzipped and the shampoo fell out and got all over my clothing.
What's really cool is that a company has come out with small tracking devices that can be hidden in expensive devices and tracked via satellite, similar to lo-jacking technology. It's supposedly hitting the market soon. I'll be one of the first in line. I'm sure there are honest TSA people, but as far as I'm concerned, "one bad apple" and all that....

Apit, I know the TSA folks in Utah really well, but it's against federal law to shoot film in a secured zone, so I'll need to create a set in a building that has Xrays, etc. Some of you may have seen the SNL skit that was the "We'll mutilate it if you forgot to send it and we'll take the blame" but that's sorta the thought I had in mind, except to show the TSA stealing and hocking other people's stuff.
apit34356 wrote on 3/4/2005, 3:29 AM
DSE, its possible to gain "legal" access to a closed or being remodel terminal section, if everyone signs off, I have recently worked on a special project concerning "Northwest". and Metro Airport.
Coursedesign wrote on 3/4/2005, 8:43 AM
"I sure wish Gene Rodenberry's predictions would have come true. I could use a transporter when it comes to travel."

Spot,

Consider General Aviation. In quite a few cases you can charter a plane and pilot for less than it would cost you in airline tickets, especially for more than one passenger.

The plane leaves when you want, it flies to thousands of local airports that the airlines don't fly to which may save you a long car ride at the end. Little or no TSA hassle, and the return is when you want. Equipment is no problem and it is within sight until its loaded and from when it's unloaded. Even small airports usually have car rentals where you can drive the car right up to the plane to load your stuff.

Look for air taxi operators. They have commercial pilots, many of them are affiliated with flight schools where the staff also work as flight instructors. Jets are expensive guzzlers, propeller planes aren't, even the six seaters.

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/4/2005, 8:47 AM
It's not as cheap as you'd think. Ironically, we just had this discussion last night with Jason Abbott, who is our web designer. He's a pilot too. We were checking into flights for NAB, since we've lost something in every single flight through McCarran (carry your valuables there, folks) after virtually every trade show. It's cheaper to fly commercial, and quite a bit cheaper to drive 4 guys, so we're doing the drive thing. With the upcoming Vegas 6 tour, we'll have a grundle of gear, and so we'd also looked at charter for that too. MUCH more expensive than even Fedexing computers and cameras from city to city, so we'll keep Fedexing stuff and flying commercial. If you have 6 or more people, it's about the same cost without the hassles and without the trouble of big airports. We only have 2 guys plus gear.
Bill Ravens wrote on 3/4/2005, 8:58 AM
I recently invested in an RV for my travel purposes. While it's small, I can drive myself, feed and bed myself in quite a bit of comfort. I have a permanent storage for my expensive gear, a laptop power and comm connection for my laptop, all I'm missing is the phone connection. Travel time is, of course, a factor, but, infinitely safer and more secure than flying or taking the train. I guess this won't work for trips to Oz, Spot.

Never thought I'd be old enuff to drive an RV. I guess it's just karma for shaking my fist at all those senior citizens for so many years...;o)
Spot|DSE wrote on 3/4/2005, 9:14 AM
Wanna drive us around on the next tour, Bill? :-) I'm sure we'd have a blast! Training by day, Cuervo by night. (OK, I'm not a drinkin' man, but I could be our designated driver.
Quryous wrote on 3/4/2005, 12:13 PM
Well, Spot,

You mentioned: "With the upcoming Vegas 6 tour,"

Might I ask when that starts? Please!
Spot|DSE wrote on 3/4/2005, 12:17 PM
That was a slip of the tongue....:-)
No dates being announced just yet because we can't announce just yet.
apit34356 wrote on 3/4/2005, 12:37 PM
Its looks like DSE has been doing some time traveling using Gene Rodenberry's transporter beaming thru a wormhole! Another VEGAS first in the NLE battle, way too go Spot....DSE or Spot or ...... frame of reference can be a real B..............
dat5150 wrote on 3/4/2005, 1:05 PM
TSA stole my laptop and dig camera out of Las Vegas last year. I filed a report with the airline(Air Tran) thinking they cared.....NOT! Word of advice, all valuables in carry on only.
MH_Stevens wrote on 3/4/2005, 9:21 PM
The irony here is that these TSA employees are only going through our bags in secret because of national security in a time of a "war on terror". These criminals, for a few bucks, are just as likely to slip a bomb in as steal a notebook out if there was anyone to supply them Does this not show what a farce this faked terror hype is.

John_Cline wrote on 3/4/2005, 9:31 PM
I simply don't fly to gigs anymore if I need to take more gear that I can carry on the plane with me. Even then, I usually get singled out and forced to unpack everything and turn it on, I guess to prove it isn't going to blow up. Usually, the TSA foks have no idea what any of this stuff is anyway. One time, I had a shotgun microphone in my carry-on and they asked what it was, before fully thinking about the consequence of my answer, I said, "it's a shotgun..." and before I could say "microphone," they whisked me into a little room and grilled me long enough to make me miss my plane. Flying USED to be fun.

John
Coursedesign wrote on 3/4/2005, 9:52 PM
In this week's radio news, a TSA baggage inspector said the law required three hours of training per week, but last time he received any training was several years ago...

Steve Mann wrote on 3/4/2005, 11:07 PM
We have people pouring unchecked across every border yet we feel safer by banning BIC lighters and canned air from airplanes. Not to mention we have people unscrupulous enough to steal baggage for a few bucks who have complete access to cargo holds of aircraft. What's to stop them from putting something ON the plane for money? Shhesh. I'm getting further off topic....sorry.

And in Washington DC, a Senator who is worried about the sexual identity of a cartoon sponge.

BillyBoy wrote on 3/5/2005, 9:51 AM
Yea, that's FUNNY! Sexual "identity" of a cartoon sponge and the evils of the color purple according to extremists on the far right. For the first couple years after 9/11 the government didn't ban lighters, not because they couldn't be used to start something, rather because of the all powerful tobacco lobby that raised a stink. They don't ban matches still for one simple reason... they admit they can't prevent them from being easily hidden. So much for our "security", its all illusion and feel good politics. Never mind it wastes billions and doesn't increase security at all. If anything it adds to a false sense of security.

BTW, baggage handlers have been helping themselves to what's inside baggage for decades. Nothing new there, except now some of the employees are suppose to be part of the government and the "security" force that's suppose to "protect" us.

Worse, the terrorists that took down the planes on 9/11 passed as Joe Average types and easily walked right past "security" and would easily do so again today and tomorrow. That's a lesson NOT learned.

While the idiots in government are supposedly looking for wild eyed extremists and strip serching grandma, the next batch of terroirsts may be soft talking well dressed Joes, Toms and Johns training right now as some FAA controllers, airline pilots or "security" persons with easy access just waiting for the next go signal to attack us again.