Beware of thieves at screening points
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oz
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unfortunately this is quite common place over in the US these days. I've been lucky & had the good fortune of not having my phone & laptop pinched when I've forgotten them. You go through security several times a day, 4 days a week & once a year or so at least it will happen.
Good luck, be vigilant. The world is full of scum these days.
Good luck, be vigilant. The world is full of scum these days.
I put all my crap in the tray, place it on the belt and then wait till it goes into the xray before I step through the metal detector. Pisses the guards off let me tell you but I pay no attention to them and do my thing. I keep my eye on my stuff for this exact reason. Never put my wallet in the tray. They ask looking at my pocket "Everything out of your pockets" "Yes" I reply and walk through, never been challenged and I would arc up if they did. "Did I set it off, etc.......blah, blah, blah...."Still amazes me that we go through this show when we jump up the front and blast off. But its their train set and I'll play within the rules....because I have to, dont we.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Australia
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Step thru quickly, keep your hands at the centre and cover your watch with your right hand. Trust me works a treat.
Keep your phone keys sunnies and wallet in your crew bag at all times.
Have a 100% pass rate with this technique.
Keep your phone keys sunnies and wallet in your crew bag at all times.
Have a 100% pass rate with this technique.
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Just to the original poster..
Do airlines take note of when people check-in and to which seat... i.e this boarding pass was printed at this time.. surely they do... wouldnt that take you back to this person... but i guess while they spend an hour checking my vehicle for drugs and so forth pulling everything apart to find nothing after a "tip off" (read prank - was funny for about 5 mins) and after they watched me get in my car from work in uniform the real crims are happily making a living...
Do airlines take note of when people check-in and to which seat... i.e this boarding pass was printed at this time.. surely they do... wouldnt that take you back to this person... but i guess while they spend an hour checking my vehicle for drugs and so forth pulling everything apart to find nothing after a "tip off" (read prank - was funny for about 5 mins) and after they watched me get in my car from work in uniform the real crims are happily making a living...
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Scanners are a joke!!!
They are all set to different tolerances and sometimes go off and others not when wearing exactly the same clothing.
Agree with No Idea Either, do not take your eyes of you gear. Most of the time the security guard watching the belt is not even looking at the belt but talking to their mate or staring into space.
Bottom line, don't think that someone other than yourself is looking out for your safety and security at Aust airports.
They are all set to different tolerances and sometimes go off and others not when wearing exactly the same clothing.
Agree with No Idea Either, do not take your eyes of you gear. Most of the time the security guard watching the belt is not even looking at the belt but talking to their mate or staring into space.
Bottom line, don't think that someone other than yourself is looking out for your safety and security at Aust airports.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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The security/customs can check back and identify persons of interest. Because I saw it in action a few years ago with a flight out of Auckland to Cooly.
Some time in the flight we got an acars asking if such and such a passenger was seated in xx, we were the then asked if he was wearing a pink shirt and green shorts and had a big beer gut! (thought it was a joke about now) and was he travelling with a lady with bleached hair, yellow dress with lots of gold jewellery?
The girls stealthfully checked this couple out, and we did indeed have the aforementioned couple travelling with us.
We were then asked upon landing to keep them on-board until the federal police could questioned them. So these two big coppers with guns came on then escorted them across the tarmac in front of all the other pax, with her having a hissy-fit, and never to be seen by us again.
Turns out that he had swiped a cellphone from a tray at security, that happened to belong to a police sergeant!
Personally I think they should have been arrested for having crap taste in fashion.
Some time in the flight we got an acars asking if such and such a passenger was seated in xx, we were the then asked if he was wearing a pink shirt and green shorts and had a big beer gut! (thought it was a joke about now) and was he travelling with a lady with bleached hair, yellow dress with lots of gold jewellery?
The girls stealthfully checked this couple out, and we did indeed have the aforementioned couple travelling with us.
We were then asked upon landing to keep them on-board until the federal police could questioned them. So these two big coppers with guns came on then escorted them across the tarmac in front of all the other pax, with her having a hissy-fit, and never to be seen by us again.
Turns out that he had swiped a cellphone from a tray at security, that happened to belong to a police sergeant!
Personally I think they should have been arrested for having crap taste in fashion.
Evertonian
Do they have an OPI in WA? (Office of Police Integrity)
Here in Vic, we have the OPI. Cops hate them, but they'd follow through on any complaints you'd have. If you have footage of the theft then, as indicated above, it wouldn't take a genius to survey other CCTV footage to see if he was a punter or a visitor.
Make a lot of noise!
Here in Vic, we have the OPI. Cops hate them, but they'd follow through on any complaints you'd have. If you have footage of the theft then, as indicated above, it wouldn't take a genius to survey other CCTV footage to see if he was a punter or a visitor.
Make a lot of noise!
I'm a regular through screening at Perth. When it's busy there it can be a nightmare and if you lose your concentration for a second it leaves an opportunity for the unscrupulous as occurred in this case. Best thing I found is stuff everything into your carry on, grab it on the other side and off you go. Unless you get the "good morning sir / madam, would you step this way for a random explosive trace test please"?
Poor security knucks have a hard enough time as it is trying to get everyone through with as little inconvenience as possible without this sort of **** to deal with.
Poor security knucks have a hard enough time as it is trying to get everyone through with as little inconvenience as possible without this sort of **** to deal with.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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If you are wearing real gold(expensive gold) and not the junk you get at Goldmark(cheap gold),you will never set the scanner off.
Why do I know this,my wife travels frequently,and she never takes her gold off,even when requested.And guess what,it never sets the alarm off.
Even the other day the dopey security guard asked her to remove her jewellery,to which she refused,and she walked straight thru without setting the alarm off.
Made me think though,lucky Saddam isnt around with his gold Desert Eagle and AK-47,as he'd probably get thru YPPH security.
Why do I know this,my wife travels frequently,and she never takes her gold off,even when requested.And guess what,it never sets the alarm off.
Even the other day the dopey security guard asked her to remove her jewellery,to which she refused,and she walked straight thru without setting the alarm off.
Made me think though,lucky Saddam isnt around with his gold Desert Eagle and AK-47,as he'd probably get thru YPPH security.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Melbourne
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Was advised a few years ago that if you simply keep any metal items close to the centre of the scanner as you pass through, you stand less of a chance getting pinged. If they want your hands by your sides then crab walk through sideways to keep the buggers happy (whilst keeping an eagle eye on the belt with your valuables).
Am simply not taking off my $4k Breitling for any 'security' clown regardless of his reasons for the request, nor the wedding band....
Am another regular through YPPH and most other places starting with a 'Y' and have had a 100% success rate with my technique.
Am simply not taking off my $4k Breitling for any 'security' clown regardless of his reasons for the request, nor the wedding band....
Am another regular through YPPH and most other places starting with a 'Y' and have had a 100% success rate with my technique.
Seasonally Adjusted
For a few years I had a 15cm long stainless steel plate and 12 screws holding my tibia together, (the joys of motorbikes.) I always anticipated that I would have problems with Airport Security but never set the scanner off.
One day I asked the nice lady standing alongside the machine why it wasn't detecting the 'hardware', she said it only registered a 3 out of 5 and didn't trip the alarm.
This has always confused me....if all that metal cr@p in my leg was only a '3' then what hope does it have of detecting a blade out of a box cutter.
One day I asked the nice lady standing alongside the machine why it wasn't detecting the 'hardware', she said it only registered a 3 out of 5 and didn't trip the alarm.
This has always confused me....if all that metal cr@p in my leg was only a '3' then what hope does it have of detecting a blade out of a box cutter.
Originally Posted by YPJT
Unless you get the "good morning sir / madam, would you step this way for a random explosive trace test please"?
In my previous life with Ronny RAAF, I was attached to 2AFDS at Amberley, dealing, in part, with all their ammo requests and assorted bollocks. On an exercise in Townsville, I'd just finished sealing boxes of rifle and 40mm grenade ammunition and boxes of Plastic Explosive when I had to go pick up the FSGT from the airport, and got stopped for one of these "random checks".
Being in uniform, I told the woman straight off the bat I'm going to set it off, and do so in a big way, but the machine didn't make so much as a beep. I was most disappointed...Kinda makes me wonder if actually having PE traces on your hands and clothing isn't going to do it, then what the hell is it looking for?
KRviator,
Interesting. I always thought those machines would only detect people who were messy with explosives. On a simlar note though, a recent fireworks show with the smoke wafting through the crowd at a pilbara town had the ETD going ape**** for about a week.
Interesting. I always thought those machines would only detect people who were messy with explosives. On a simlar note though, a recent fireworks show with the smoke wafting through the crowd at a pilbara town had the ETD going ape**** for about a week.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Towering, Q, there's a lot of muscle, flesh and other bits of your innards between the metal and the scanner.
Some implants and metal pins will set off walk through metal detectors, some won't. Usually the longer you've had it the less likely it is to go off.
Mr Hat, thanks.
Some implants and metal pins will set off walk through metal detectors, some won't. Usually the longer you've had it the less likely it is to go off.
Mr Hat, thanks.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I read somewhere about a guy who charges his own bullets for target shooting and he has never set off the ETD. He scorns the whole thing.
As for the theft issue, I have had some security guards tell me to put my wallet etc in the carry on baggage because of this very problem. I never take my eyes off that bag or my laptop and like a poster above will wait until they are in the machine before going through the scanner.
As for the theft issue, I have had some security guards tell me to put my wallet etc in the carry on baggage because of this very problem. I never take my eyes off that bag or my laptop and like a poster above will wait until they are in the machine before going through the scanner.
Join Date: May 2006
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I think a numbered disc to match the box with your belongings is an excellent idea but I just can't see it working with the huge numbers queueing for security at LHR or Gatwick over holiday periods.
I have never had anything stolen from the boxes but was horrifed to hear how regularly this seems to happen. Most of the thefts mentioned here seem to happen in Oz but I can't believe its exclusive to them.
I have never had anything stolen from the boxes but was horrifed to hear how regularly this seems to happen. Most of the thefts mentioned here seem to happen in Oz but I can't believe its exclusive to them.
I think I've mentioned this before but twice I've inadvertently carried ammo around in my carry on bag. Once it must of been for about 4 years before it was finally picked up.
We are talking dozens of cartridges that not one x-ray picked up (or was identified) for years.
We are talking dozens of cartridges that not one x-ray picked up (or was identified) for years.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I travel internationally regularly and hear lots of similar horror stories of theft. No reason why it shouldn't happen in Oz at any time. I have a few simple rules going through security (not applicable to those with metallic implants or shrapnel wounds though):
1. Have all your pockets emptied before you enter the screening area. Most men distribute their wallet, coins, keys, mobile phone, pen etc all around their jacket/shirt/pants but when you remove them at the screening point, it gives thieves a chance to see what you have. Never thread holsters (eg mobile phone type) through your waist belt or you'll have to struggle to take it off. Besides, it slows you down and distracts you. Put all such items out of sight into your bag before you arrive at the security area.
2. Dress appropriately. Heavy coats should be stowed so you need not take them off in a hurry. If you wear a belt, the buckle should be of a light alloy and not solid steel, which would send the beeper off, delay your walk-through and give a chance to someone to steal your things. Same for some types of heavy duty watches - the cheaper metal or plastic ones pose no problems. Avoid metal pins (ties/shirts) and heavy duty metal fasteners/zippers/studs in your clothing and footwear. Avoid wearing jewellery or hair-pins.
3. After you take out your laptop, place it in a tray ahead of all your other bags on the conveyor belt. Stand firm and watch all your bags disappear into the x-ray machine before walking through the detector gate. Follow through the items exiting from the belt and don't take your eyes off your laptop. Re-stow it immediately and then walk away with the rest of your bags (no more re-packing required). If you are travelling together with someone else, get them to walk through the detector first and cover the exit end of the belt while you cover the entry side.
4. When you walk through the detector frame, walk through slowly while keeping your hands firmly down your side. The wake created by your movement through the air sometimes set off sensitive alarms in some countries, so keep your "wake" to a minimum.
5. If you have to retrieve your watch/pen or other metal item for wearing on the person later, leave the security area and find a quieter corner away from the melee before doing so.
Just my 2 cents worth - it's all common sense. Travel safe.
1. Have all your pockets emptied before you enter the screening area. Most men distribute their wallet, coins, keys, mobile phone, pen etc all around their jacket/shirt/pants but when you remove them at the screening point, it gives thieves a chance to see what you have. Never thread holsters (eg mobile phone type) through your waist belt or you'll have to struggle to take it off. Besides, it slows you down and distracts you. Put all such items out of sight into your bag before you arrive at the security area.
2. Dress appropriately. Heavy coats should be stowed so you need not take them off in a hurry. If you wear a belt, the buckle should be of a light alloy and not solid steel, which would send the beeper off, delay your walk-through and give a chance to someone to steal your things. Same for some types of heavy duty watches - the cheaper metal or plastic ones pose no problems. Avoid metal pins (ties/shirts) and heavy duty metal fasteners/zippers/studs in your clothing and footwear. Avoid wearing jewellery or hair-pins.
3. After you take out your laptop, place it in a tray ahead of all your other bags on the conveyor belt. Stand firm and watch all your bags disappear into the x-ray machine before walking through the detector gate. Follow through the items exiting from the belt and don't take your eyes off your laptop. Re-stow it immediately and then walk away with the rest of your bags (no more re-packing required). If you are travelling together with someone else, get them to walk through the detector first and cover the exit end of the belt while you cover the entry side.
4. When you walk through the detector frame, walk through slowly while keeping your hands firmly down your side. The wake created by your movement through the air sometimes set off sensitive alarms in some countries, so keep your "wake" to a minimum.
5. If you have to retrieve your watch/pen or other metal item for wearing on the person later, leave the security area and find a quieter corner away from the melee before doing so.
Just my 2 cents worth - it's all common sense. Travel safe.