TSA Employees Accused of Thefts at LAX

ABC News ^ | March 22, 2007

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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.

[eatthefrogfirst]

I just ran across this posting and started thinking. It appears that a majority of the thefts occurred from items being held in the TSA/LAX lost and found; the people being charged are screeners, lead screeners, screening supervisors and a screening manager all of whom worked with the then Primary Screening Manager for terminal six at LAX. As a group these people established the lost and found system that was in place at LAX and so easily abused. I was wondering if anyone has bothered to look into the possible connection to the Primary Screening Manager who is now an Assistant Federal Security Director at Houston’s airport? This is an individual who had the ability to lie anytime he spoke and I never did trust him.

[Alouette]

My daughter lost her luggage at LAX three weeks ago.

It turned out her bags were offloaded at Detroit during a stopover. Her bags were delivered the next morning. She didn’t report anything missing.

If she finds out about this, she’s going to ask me to buy her a whole bunch of new stuff.