TSA Employees Accused of Thefts at LAX

ABC News ^ | March 22, 2007

[bd476]

TSA Employees Accused of Thefts at LAX

Victims include Paris Hilton, Keyshia Cole

LOS ANGELES, Mar. 22, 2007 - Misdemeanor theft cases are being filed against 10 employees and a transient suspected of pilfering the personal property of travelers at LAX, including hotel heiress Paris Hilton and singer Keyshia Cole, the City Attorney's Office announced today.

Most of the alleged thieves are employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration, said Nick Velasquez of the City Attorney's Office.

A news conference is planned at LAX tomorrow morning to discuss details of the investigation and charges.

"We're a public law office, so whenever there's a significant announcement or a significant legal actions being taken, it's our duty and obligation to tell the public ... that we are working to ensure the safety and security of travelers at LAX," Velasquez said.

Eight of the defendants are TSA employees who work at Los Angeles International Airport and two are employees of an LAX subcontractor, Velasquez said.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo will be joined for the announcement by Larry Fetters, federal security director for the TSA; Jack Hook, special agent in charge with the Department of Homeland Security-Office of the Inspector General; and LAPD Capt. Bob Green, commanding officer of the LAPD-LAX Field Services Division.

During the news conference, Delgadillo will also announce the launch of his "LAX Security Enhancement Initiative," according to Velasquez.

[bd476]

" 'We're a public law office, so whenever there's a significant announcement or a significant legal actions being taken, it's our duty and obligation to tell the public ... that we are working to ensure the safety and security of travelers at LAX,' Velasquez said..."

It was your duty to ensure the safety and security of travelers at LAX by preventing crime in the first place.

"...During the news conference, Delgadillo will also announce the launch of his 'LAX Security Enhancement Initiative' according to Velasquez."

Gee, I wonder what plans they have for acquiring the money to fund their new Security Enhancement Initiative. /s

[river rat]

Ah yes.....How well I remember the Democrats who INSISTED that the TSA folks had to become Federal Employees and Civil Service (Democrat Financing) Union members --- "Federalize to Professionalize"

Well - they became Professional Thieves...

Theft under color of authority -- should carry VERY special penalties..

Bastards.

Semper Fi

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

add to these 10 who were caught the number who haven't been caught, then multiply THAT by the number of airports, and you have an awful lot of time spent scheming and committing these crimes that ought to be dedicated to transportation security but is not.

TSA is not cost-effective....and the reason is the caliber of people it hires

[yoe]

Ohooo....is this akin to the eight fired lawyers by President Bush who were not doing their jobs because of personal feelings?

[Neu Pragmatist]

It should be felony charges no matter what is stolen . Hit these thieves hard .

[tubebender]

Sounds like RUSH's PSA parody is right on...

[bd476]

TSA in the News:

TSA Employees Accused of Thefts at LAX ^
	Posted by bd476 On News/Activism ^ 03/22/2007 10:01:20 PM PDT · 2 replies · 53+ views ABC News ^ | March 22, 2007
Democrats Uphold TSA Bargaining Rights in 9/11 Bill ^
	Posted by Owl_Eagle On News/Activism ^ 03/07/2007 8:03:28 AM PST · 33 replies · 407+ views Family Security Matters ^ | March 7, 2007 | Amanda Carpenter
Idaho TSA Director Resigns Following Indecent Exposure Charge ^
	Posted by skeptoid On General/Chat ^ 03/02/2007 10:39:56 AM PST · 11 replies · 286+ views Aero-News.net ^ | Fri, 02 Mar '07
GOP Warns of Union Talk in Security Bill (Bush to Veto 9/11 Comm Bill if it Allows TSA to Unionize) ^
	Posted by RWR8189 On News/Activism ^ 02/27/2007 2:27:59 PM PST · 9 replies · 481+ views Associated Press ^ | Februrary 27, 2007 | LAURIE KELLMAN
TSA still in the way of arming U.S. pilots  ^
	Posted by rellimpank On News/Activism ^ 02/14/2007 5:32:11 AM PST · 33 replies · 484+ views Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 14 Feb 07
Airport Security Breach Over 500 Missing TSA Security Badges and Uniforms at LAX (Los Angeles) ^
	Posted by bd476 On News/Activism ^ 02/05/2007 12:50:32 PM PST · 56 replies · 1,609+ views KCAL Channel 9 Los Angeles ^ | 5 February 2007
Dept of Homeland Stupidity: TSA Supervisor Proves Crime Pays!  ^
	Posted by roguejew1965 On News/Activism ^ 02/05/2007 4:33:28 AM PST · 7 replies · 899+ views MensNewsDaily.Com ^ | 02/04/07 | Ze'ev Haas
TSA: We Have Lost Our Stinking Badges ^
	Posted by theothercheek On News/Activism ^ 01/17/2007 5:49:57 AM PST · 21 replies · 570+ views The Stiletto ^ | January 17, 2007 | The Stiletto
Records detail missing TSA badges, uniforms[3700 Badges/Uniforms] ^
	Posted by FLOutdoorsman On News/Activism ^ 01/16/2007 6:54:33 AM PST · 18 replies · 585+ views KGBT-4 ^ | 21Dec 2006 | Brian Collister
TSA State of Crime ^
	Posted by Maelstorm On News/Activism ^ 01/07/2007 12:56:38 PM PST · 26 replies · 759+ views www.kirotv.com ^ | May 5, 2005 | www.kirotv.com
The TSA Doesn't CAIR About Airport Security! ^
	Posted by roguejew1965 On Bloggers & Personal ^ 01/04/2007 5:13:15 AM PST · 6 replies · 279+ views MensNewsDaily.Com ^ | 01/04/07 | Ze'ev Haas
Is TSA Trying Hard Enough To Stop Terror In The Sky? ^
	Posted by theothercheek On News/Activism ^ 01/03/2007 4:56:19 AM PST · 14 replies · 302+ views The Stiletto ^ | January 3, 2007 | The Stiletto
Singing CAIR’s Tune, On Your Dime [CAIR Occupies TSA] ^
	Posted by Alouette On News/Activism ^ 01/02/2007 8:23:41 AM PST · 31 replies · 838+ views National Review ^ | Jan. 2, 2007 | Andrew McCarthy
CAIR Welcomes TSA Hajj Sensitivity Training ^
	Posted by Doctor Raoul On News/Activism ^ 12/27/2006 2:40:03 PM PST · 43 replies · 850+ views US Newswire ^ | December 27, 2006
Security Alert: Airport Screener Jacket Found at Local Store (TSA jacket for sale at thrift store)  ^
	Posted by LibWhacker On News/Activism ^ 12/22/2006 11:14:11 AM PST · 15 replies · 482+ views WOAI ^ | 12/22/06
Minnesota - TSA questions six taken from Phoenix-bound flight ^
	Posted by HAL9000 On News/Activism ^ 11/20/2006 10:32:06 PM PST · 11 replies · 678+ views startribune.com ^ | November 21, 2006
TSA socks controllers in the gut ^
	Posted by BulletBobCo On News/Activism ^ 11/18/2006 8:29:15 PM PST · 35 replies · 1,270+ views Denver Post ^ | 11/14/2006 | Jim Spencer
TSA Screener Arrested (Millwaukee, WI (Video)) ^
	Posted by Paleo Conservative On News/Activism ^ 10/18/2006 7:34:19 PM PDT · 40 replies · 1,624+ views TMJ4 ^ | 10/14/2006 | Staff
Congress: TSA must toe small-biz line ^
	Posted by COBOL2Java On News/Activism ^ 10/12/2006 4:21:58 AM PDT · 9 replies · 368+ views Washington Technology Newswatch ^ | 11 October 2006 | Alice Lipowicz
Hating the TSA ^
	Posted by Dick Bachert On News/Activism ^ 10/08/2006 10:00:47 PM PDT · 77 replies · 1,574+ views Muth's Truths ^ | 10/8/2006 | Chuck Muth

[bd476]

This just in: TSA agents caught stealing.

The Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo plans a news conference for tomorrow. He will announce a new Initiative $$ to assure the safety of travelers who pass through Los Angeles Airport.

[bd476]

Vn_survivor_67-68 wrote: "add to these 10 who were caught the number who haven't been caught, then multiply THAT by the number of airports, and you have an awful lot of time spent scheming and committing these crimes that ought to be dedicated to transportation security but is not."

That's so true Vn_survivor. Security is nothing more than smoke and mirrors with the TSA.

Airport Security Breach Over 500 Missing TSA Security Badges and Uniforms at LAX (Los Angeles)

[TracyTucson]

Anytime that airport security (whether private or TSA or local police) go through your baggage, it should be done in front of you so that you can monitor it. You already know what's in your baggage, so why does inspecting your bag have to be done in secret in a hidden part of the airport?

[bd476]

Agree. They were supposed to be thoroughly background checked and specially trained. The whole system needs to be overhauled.

[bd476]

Some airlines have baggage check/TSA inspectors' booths on the sidewalk outside of the terminal where you can observe them rifling through your luggage.

However, since you are not allowed to lock your luggage, any TSA agent can go through your luggage again, and again, whenever they want before it is loaded onto the plane.

[bd476]

Pretty sad, isn't it.

[endthematrix]

"They were supposed to be thoroughly background checked..."

TSA hires you, then does a background check. It can take about three months. The turn over/attrition is staggering.

[bd476]

yoe wrote: "Ohooo....is this akin to the eight fired lawyers by President Bush who were not doing their jobs because of personal feelings?"

The TSA have a long track record of doing everything except their jobs.

TSA in the News

More TSA in the News

[HAL9000]

Give a good tip to Miami skycap or get a surprise in your luggage

[Cindy]

Thank you bd476 for the ping.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793738/posts?page=1228#1228

[bd476]

endthematrix wrote: " 'They were supposed to be thoroughly background checked...'

TSA hires you, then does a background check. It can take about three months. The turn over/attrition is staggering."

Apparently the turn over/attrition rate is not staggering enough.

[bd476]

You're welcome, Cindy. Thank you very much for keeping track and for all of your research.

[bd476]

LOL, thanks for the tip, Hal. Hopefully I won't have to fly American Airlines or through Miami anytime soon.