BA Crews caught stealing booze (merged)
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Quick...empty your crewbag.
BA crew arrested over drinks
CREW members on a British Airways flight into Manchester were arrested after they were caught stealing miniature bottles of spirits.
A group of seven cabin crew staff were stopped at Manchester Airport and were searched by customs officers who seized hundreds of drinks - thought to be brandy, whisky and gin worth £300 - as well as bags of peanuts.
Three of the staff, two women and a man, were arrested and given a police caution for offence - which means they admitted their guilt. They have now been suspended by British Airways. The other four crew members who were stopped were not arrested but they, along with their colleagues who accepted a caution, have now been suspended by British Airways pending internal disciplinary procedures.
The discovery on Sunday morning was made after nine crew were stopped in a random search at the airport as they went through the nothing-to-declare staff channel following a flight from New York.
A spokeswoman for BA said: "Seven crew members have been suspended on full pay pending an internal investigation."
An airport source said the taking of miniatures from aircraft by staff had been commonplace for years, although airlines believed they had stamped it out.
A police spokesman said: "This is a warning to other staff at the airport. This sort of thing won't be tolerated."
CREW members on a British Airways flight into Manchester were arrested after they were caught stealing miniature bottles of spirits.
A group of seven cabin crew staff were stopped at Manchester Airport and were searched by customs officers who seized hundreds of drinks - thought to be brandy, whisky and gin worth £300 - as well as bags of peanuts.
Three of the staff, two women and a man, were arrested and given a police caution for offence - which means they admitted their guilt. They have now been suspended by British Airways. The other four crew members who were stopped were not arrested but they, along with their colleagues who accepted a caution, have now been suspended by British Airways pending internal disciplinary procedures.
The discovery on Sunday morning was made after nine crew were stopped in a random search at the airport as they went through the nothing-to-declare staff channel following a flight from New York.
A spokeswoman for BA said: "Seven crew members have been suspended on full pay pending an internal investigation."
An airport source said the taking of miniatures from aircraft by staff had been commonplace for years, although airlines believed they had stamped it out.
A police spokesman said: "This is a warning to other staff at the airport. This sort of thing won't be tolerated."
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Hmmm, see the light-fingered brigade is still alive and well.
Recall many years ago in S'pore, an SQ senior steward was stopped in customs and his hand luggage contained 163 give-away SQ pens.
A search of his larger suitcase revealed ninety+ small bottles.
To jail for two years for his efforts.
Suggest immediate dismissal for the MAN lot...fine/jail time as appropriate, according to d'judge.
Recall many years ago in S'pore, an SQ senior steward was stopped in customs and his hand luggage contained 163 give-away SQ pens.
A search of his larger suitcase revealed ninety+ small bottles.
To jail for two years for his efforts.
Suggest immediate dismissal for the MAN lot...fine/jail time as appropriate, according to d'judge.
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What is this bo**cks getting a caution and admitting guilt!! When does blatant theft become an offence? Caught Red handed and they should not be on full pay either. Lethal injection time methinks.
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I recall an incident at SeaTac International (airline to remain unnamed) where they were doing some remodeling to a baggage handling area which included removal of a wall to open up an area. The wall(like 12 ft tall) was not structural and ran from the floor to about 4 inches below the ceiling. By climbing on the baggage racks one could reach the top quite easily. It just so happened that Senior Management was taking a tour to understand the remodel when they decided to start knocking the wall down. When the guys with the sledge hammers hit the bottom of the wall, literally thousands of empty mini bottles came pouring out. Needless to say, upper management was not amused. 
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A colleague told me story that happened to him last year at BA LHR.
On the bus back to the carpark two 'men in suits' borded and asked for female cabin crew X to accompany them to Compass (BA checkin/ops), she refused so they said the police will be called and she won't be allowed to leave the car park.
Eventually she agreed, the FO was asked to accompany one of the 'men in suits' with her bag and drive to Compass Centre where they met the Captain who had accompanied the other 'man in suit' and cabin crew member X.
Her wheely bag was opened in front of FO/Capt and her to reveal it to contain the contents of several bars .....
She was immediatley dismissed and charges brought.
The sickening ending to this is that she pleaded 'depression' and is now back flying for BA ...... Has the world gone raving bonkers !
On the bus back to the carpark two 'men in suits' borded and asked for female cabin crew X to accompany them to Compass (BA checkin/ops), she refused so they said the police will be called and she won't be allowed to leave the car park.
Eventually she agreed, the FO was asked to accompany one of the 'men in suits' with her bag and drive to Compass Centre where they met the Captain who had accompanied the other 'man in suit' and cabin crew member X.
Her wheely bag was opened in front of FO/Capt and her to reveal it to contain the contents of several bars .....
She was immediatley dismissed and charges brought.
The sickening ending to this is that she pleaded 'depression' and is now back flying for BA ...... Has the world gone raving bonkers !
noblues - even if guilty, that sort of public humiliation would weaken any prosecution case. Sorry, but even though you and I might not like it, the thieving so-and-so would have had some rights under law...
Incidentally, were all the bottles opened and proven to contain alcohol? Perhaps a few cabin staff will elect to fill up a few empty gin bottles with Epsom salts and invite the 'Men in Suits' to check....
Seriously, perhaps a 'heavy rumour' about theft investigators being called in might have had the desired effect instead?
Incidentally, were all the bottles opened and proven to contain alcohol? Perhaps a few cabin staff will elect to fill up a few empty gin bottles with Epsom salts and invite the 'Men in Suits' to check....
Seriously, perhaps a 'heavy rumour' about theft investigators being called in might have had the desired effect instead?
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After a Rome nightstop quite a few years ago, when FC was a copilot, the hotel manager took the captain on one side. Turned out that something had been pinched from a room and the manager didn't want to let us go until it was given back. The captain could only repeat the claim and request the guilty party to own up.
Well, as you might expect, nobody did, so we were reduced to all opening our cases. One of the girls had a beautiful bronze lamp in her bag - not dissimilar to the ones in the rooms... and went a fiery shade of red. Lamp given back - all smiles from the hotel manager and a very embarrassed hostess resigned a day later.
I often tried to work out what I would do better if I had been the captain - never found a satisfactory answer.
It starts with spoons - then ashtrays - towels - bath robes - then... whatever, it aint worth it.
Well, as you might expect, nobody did, so we were reduced to all opening our cases. One of the girls had a beautiful bronze lamp in her bag - not dissimilar to the ones in the rooms... and went a fiery shade of red. Lamp given back - all smiles from the hotel manager and a very embarrassed hostess resigned a day later.
I often tried to work out what I would do better if I had been the captain - never found a satisfactory answer.
It starts with spoons - then ashtrays - towels - bath robes - then... whatever, it aint worth it.
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TDK - you are right, but theft is theft, and some people think that the only mistake they make is getting caught.
But unfortunately these guys were too stupid to appreciate that as it was alchol they were stealing, when P.C Plod has finished with them, H.M Customs and Excise will be wanting a word in their collective ears.
Any theft involving booze etc is automatically referred to Customs because of the implications of selling it on and evading excise duty, and god help them when the Customs folk find out about the peanuts.
But unfortunately these guys were too stupid to appreciate that as it was alchol they were stealing, when P.C Plod has finished with them, H.M Customs and Excise will be wanting a word in their collective ears.
Any theft involving booze etc is automatically referred to Customs because of the implications of selling it on and evading excise duty, and god help them when the Customs folk find out about the peanuts.
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Kleptomania is alive and well in this industry! A good friend of mine, an airline captain and the son of an airline captain once told me that he was about fifteen or sixteen before he found out that shampoo also comes in bottles larger than the one wash variety!
He himself is now a total klepto, on my last visit to his house the spare bedroom was totally full of hotel towels, soaps, shampoos, condidtioners, shower caps, toilet rolls, tissues, pens and note pads. OCD!
He himself is now a total klepto, on my last visit to his house the spare bedroom was totally full of hotel towels, soaps, shampoos, condidtioners, shower caps, toilet rolls, tissues, pens and note pads. OCD!
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A Bmi hostie has just been sacked for the same thing recently at LHR after being caught at the customs point in QB with a bag full of minatures.
Been to many an airline crew members house in my time and they always have the obligatory minature bottles for entertaining.
Just about every single crew member I've ever met has taken something at one time or another - actually make that airline staff in general - might not have been alcohol but everyone in the industry takes at least something they aint supposed to.
I always thought that taking the hotel's bathroom supplies isn't actually stealing as they are giving you them to use in the hotel anyway and comes complimentary as part of the room that is actually paid for. Taking a bagfull off the cleaners trolley as you are passing in the corridor however is a differant matter.
Been to many an airline crew members house in my time and they always have the obligatory minature bottles for entertaining.
Just about every single crew member I've ever met has taken something at one time or another - actually make that airline staff in general - might not have been alcohol but everyone in the industry takes at least something they aint supposed to.
I always thought that taking the hotel's bathroom supplies isn't actually stealing as they are giving you them to use in the hotel anyway and comes complimentary as part of the room that is actually paid for. Taking a bagfull off the cleaners trolley as you are passing in the corridor however is a differant matter.
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A group of seven cabin crew staff were stopped at Manchester Airport and were searched by customs officers who seized hundreds of drinks
I believe Adolf Hitlers dad was a customs man.
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Seeing the facts as reported on the thread, its seems a bit odd.
Since when have customs been the police for BA. If I come through customs with a bottle of gin, how do they know whether: I paid for it, was given it, or stole it.
I am not saying the people concerned here aren't guilty and if they admitted stealing then they deserve what they get.
Do BA have T&C's that allow bag seraching without reasonable grounds for suspicion. I have seen clothing store folks being serached when going home but it is the exception rather than the rule.
In any event, a bit of give and take should be the norm. I often have to work with the folks on the West Coast whcih means a full day and then another 6 hours. The Company just expects it for no pay.
They are stealing time from me so its only fair its recovered in other ways. Too many times people look at the offence and scream for blood without realising there are 2 sides to every story.
Since when have customs been the police for BA. If I come through customs with a bottle of gin, how do they know whether: I paid for it, was given it, or stole it.
I am not saying the people concerned here aren't guilty and if they admitted stealing then they deserve what they get.
Do BA have T&C's that allow bag seraching without reasonable grounds for suspicion. I have seen clothing store folks being serached when going home but it is the exception rather than the rule.
In any event, a bit of give and take should be the norm. I often have to work with the folks on the West Coast whcih means a full day and then another 6 hours. The Company just expects it for no pay.
They are stealing time from me so its only fair its recovered in other ways. Too many times people look at the offence and scream for blood without realising there are 2 sides to every story.
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norodnik
The miniatures out of the bar are not for sale - its free drinks on BA.
BA's T&C's allow security to search you and your belongings any time you are airside. I think its also part of the BAA's conditions for issuing an airside pass.
Since when have customs been the police for BA. If I come through customs with a bottle of gin, how do they know whether: I paid for it, was given it, or stole it.
Do BA have T&C's that allow bag searching without reasonable grounds for suspicion.
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Ah norodnik so typical of today’s woolly thinking. They are stealing time from me so it’s OK for me to steal from them. Where does this little bit of give and take of moral standards go? How far is acceptable? Is there any clearly defined right or wrong any more? It’s society’s fault M’lud.
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Low level theft goes on in every industry, it is far from unique to the airlines.
It is estimated that within the retail sector between 30 and 50% of all loss of profit is theft/fraud by employees of the company. At my last employer this would amount to something like £15 million a year! That makes for a fairly healthy pay rise. I know of several employees, including managers, who were finally caught after years of repeated theft and fraud and found to have been responsible for thousands of pounds worth of losses.
I can't believe that anybody finds it acceptable or something to be admired or even encouraged. Britain seems to have a culture of petty criminality, and unfortunately this shows up in the workplace.
Next time an airline goes belly up, or has to make redundancies, think how much of that situation might have been caused by the criminal actions of your colleagues (or perhaps yourself), to which a blind eye may have been repeatedly turned.
It is estimated that within the retail sector between 30 and 50% of all loss of profit is theft/fraud by employees of the company. At my last employer this would amount to something like £15 million a year! That makes for a fairly healthy pay rise. I know of several employees, including managers, who were finally caught after years of repeated theft and fraud and found to have been responsible for thousands of pounds worth of losses.
I can't believe that anybody finds it acceptable or something to be admired or even encouraged. Britain seems to have a culture of petty criminality, and unfortunately this shows up in the workplace.
Next time an airline goes belly up, or has to make redundancies, think how much of that situation might have been caused by the criminal actions of your colleagues (or perhaps yourself), to which a blind eye may have been repeatedly turned.
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Police Caution
Since we don't have a national police force is a police caution a national offence. If cautioned by Manchester Police does this count when you are caught again at heathrow.
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BA crew can remove minatures from the A/C it's called crew purchase. If they had done that, they would however have had a receipt.
Crew also have a customs allowance like anyone else, they have to complete a declaration for customs before leaving the A/C. (ie anything to declare).
Customs can search anyone they like irrespective of your terms & conditions of employment, so it's best not to upset them in the first place.
Crew also have a customs allowance like anyone else, they have to complete a declaration for customs before leaving the A/C. (ie anything to declare).
Customs can search anyone they like irrespective of your terms & conditions of employment, so it's best not to upset them in the first place.