8 Tips to Keep the TSA from Stealing Your Stuff

TSA Watch ^ | 4/8/2013 | TSA Watch

[TSA-Watch]

Long security lines, ever changing rules about what is and is not allowed, manhandling pat-downs... Thanks to the TSA, air travel is unpleasant enough as it is and now we have to worry about TSA agents stealing from us? And there's no way to NOT have them go through your luggage.They go through your checked baggage and rifle through your carry-on. You have no choice but to submit to this if you want to be able to board your flight.

So what is a law abiding air traveler to do in order to protect his or her belongings from the very people who claim to be keeping us safe?

Fortunately there are some steps you can take to secure your belongings and minimize the likelihood of someone - including TSA agents - stealing your stuff.

Here's how.

Tips to Keep Thieves (Including the TSA) from Stealing Your Stuff

1. Don't pack anything valuable in your checked luggage. This includes jewelry, cash, electronics, medication, etc...
2. Know what you are bringing with you. Make a list of everything you pack and note where you packed it. If you can, photograph any valuables that you are bringing with you.
3. Use the buddy system! If you're traveling with someone, stagger yourselves in the security check line so that there are a couple of other passengers between you. That way your buddy can keep an eye on your stuff as you receive your groping pat-down and vice versa.
4. Skip the bins. Having your jewelry, watch, purse, wallet, keys, etc... out in the open while you are occupied with your pat-down is an open invitation to thieves. Stow those items in your carry-on before you get in the security check line.
5. Lock your bags with TSA-approved luggage locks or locking straps. This won't do squat to keep sticky fingered TSA agents from stealing your stuff, but it will help to deter other thieves by making your luggage more difficult to access.
6. Use colorful baggage. Thieves want to get your stuff and get away as unobtrusively as possible. They won't want to be toting that pink and purple flowered dufflebag through the airport.
7. Double check your carry-on. Once you are done with your screening, check your carry-on to make sure that everything you had in there before the screening is still there.
8. De-plane quickly and skip the potty break. Getting to baggage claim quickly means that you'll be there when your luggage rolls off the belt and thieves won't have the opportunity to swipe your bags while you aren't looking.

So there you have it. At least now you'll arrive at your destination with your belongings, if not your dignity and personal space, intact.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

but you can pack a pair or three of skidmarked drawers right there at the top so they’ll see if when they open it.

I imagine brown show polish would be the best materiel to use for that.

[Excellence]

Send your stuff ahead via UPS. They even have cardboard box suitcases!

[Gaffer]

I was thinking maybe drag half a chocolate Hershey bar across them. That way if the drug dogs got a whiff, and the TSA pukes opened it, their dogs would start licking.....imagine what their handlers would think when “Fritz” wouldn’t “Sitzen Platzen!”

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

If somebody absolutely MUST fly, I would recommend they send their luggage ahead of time by fedex so it gets there the same day they do.

And flying to West coast from East coast for business with a hotel as destination...that you have not checked in to yet? Where would one address one's luggage to?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sweeeeeet. (Pardon the punnage).

[American in Israel]

Last time through the TSA bozos, they opened one of the jars of homemade jam in my suitcase, and screwed the lid on crooked.

I Wonder if he dipped his finger in for a taste.

[WildHighlander57]

I’ve done it for a convention, prepaid first night stay and sent box o stuff ahead.

[Altariel]

[Eaker]

Have not flown since the beginning of TSA and have no intention to in the future. I drive....

How long does it take you to get to London or Japan?

[TSA-Watch]

Today is the first day I’ve had access to edit my profile, but I took care of it. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Ulfilas]

Chocolate is bad for dogs.

[Ulfilas]

Chocolate is bad for dogs.