FLL airport screeners charged with stealing

[crash-proof]

Well, folks, be on the lookout at FLL! Just kiddin...probably happens everywhere.



Fort Lauderdale airport screeners charged with stealing




FORT LAUDERDALE -- One luggage screener said he bought nearly $700 in gasoline with a credit card taken from a passenger's bag. Another said he paid off his cell phone bill with cash he took from a suitcase.

Their conversations were recorded, and on Tuesday, four Transportation Security Administration screeners at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport were charged with stealing valuables from luggage and profiting from the pilfered goods, investigators said.

Among the victims, according to investigators -- actress Shirley MacLaine, who reported losing jewelry and crystals.

Federal screeners Tito Santos-Flores, Harford Howell, Aldo Santa-Cruz and Carlos Cruz were arrested Tuesday, FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, investigators heard the suspects claim the following through a hidden audio recorder Friday and Saturday:

Cruz said he charged between $600 and $700 worth of gasoline for his car and his family members' vehicles to a credit card he took from a luggage. He also admitted taking two laptop computers for himself and his girlfriend.

Howell said he used $100 he stole from a bag to pay his cell phone bill, sold a stolen watch for $200 and planned to sell more stolen items to buy a large-screen television.

Santos-Flores and Santa-Cruz talked about foreign currency they took from several bags. Santos-Flores said the amount he stole was about $45, and Santa-Cruz said he sold some items he stole some time ago to Cruz.

The men, who have worked as baggage screeners at the airport since 2002, are the first TSA screeners there to be accused of stealing from luggage since the agency took over baggage inspection duties that year, said Lauren Stover, a TSA spokeswoman.


The four took MP3 players, jewelry, cash, DVD players and other goods from luggage since January, according to the complaint. MacLaine lost the items from her bags on May 7, the complaint said.

The men worked in Terminal 3, which services nine airlines including American, AirTran, U.S. Airways and United. Stover declined to say whether the men still work for the agency, but said their conduct should not reflect negatively on other screeners.

"We uphold our screeners to the highest standards, and we intend to take this the highest level of prosecution," Stover said. "These screeners do not represent the loyalty and commitment of TSA's screening work force."

The agency contacted the FBI on May 19 to report the suspected thefts. The arrests came after a joint month-long investigation with TSA's internal affairs department and the FBI.

The suspects were being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and will be arraigned in Fort Lauderdale federal court at 11 a.m. today.

Investigators identified the culprits through informants at the airport. One of the informants worked with the suspects and admitted stealing items with them between January and March, the complaint said. She also agreed to wear the hidden recorder last weekend while on duty, the complaint said.

TSA has received numerous complaints from passengers who claim they had goods stolen from their bags while passing through Fort Lauderdale, the complaint said. TSA has screened checked-in luggage for explosives nationwide since Jan. 1, 2003 and has advised passengers not to lock their bags in case screeners need to look inside. People who lock their bags risk having the locks broken.



http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cscreeners30jun30,0,2394213.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

 

[2000flyer]

I've had heartburn over the way TSA searches your luggage from the get-go. Having traveled to other countries, their customs (and US customs too) search your luggage infront of you. However, TSA generally searches your luggage out of your view. In the past, my luggage has been searched while I'm over getting the wand because the my belt or some other theatening piece of clothing set off the alarms.

Recently there was a story (might have been on this board) where TSA put a butcher's knife in someones luggage to see if the next guy down the line would catch it during a search. To the traveler's shock, they found the knife when they unpacked at home! Now, for the sake of argument, the next guy doesn't find it but you have a gate change in another terminal that requires you to go back through TSA and they find it. You think they'll believe "it wasn't in there when I packed?" My bet is you'll miss your flight and endure a not so pleasant interview.

I'm all for security but these methods must be reviewed and corrected. Under no circumstances should your luggage be searched without you standing there watching them!

2000Flyer

 

[EagleRJ]

If they start going through your stuff when you are not there, I would search the bag yourself before leaving the checkpoint. Look for missing valuables and added contraband. Unfortunately, their reputation precedes them.

Oh, and they are required to wear new latex gloves before they search your luggage. You don't want them wearing the same gloves they used to handle 10 other peoples' dirty underwear! If they don't have new gloves, you can tell them you will wait while they get some.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

If they start going through your stuff when you are not there, I would search the bag yourself before leaving the checkpoint. Look for missing valuables and added contraband. Unfortunately, their reputation precedes them.
QUOTE]

I think in this case the searched luggage was checked. TSA can search checked bags out of view. I guess you really shouldn't put any valuables in checked luggage. As I learned for myself when my grandmother was bringing grandfathers WWII medals, documents, and other irreplaceable stuff from the old country last winter. All of the above was stolen from her checked bag in JFK.

 

[2000flyer]

Not long ago I was going from KCHS to KMCO and had walked through the metal detector with no problems. TSA informed me I forgot to take out a nail file (file with small knife blade and clipper) from my bag and I had to take it to my car or throw it away. I took it back to my car and came back through the metal detector. Without adding or taking anything from my pockets, this time I set the detector off and was subject to a full search. I'm curious how I can pass through the same detector with the same personal items within five minutes and get two different results.

Oh yeah, Mrs. TSA demanded I throw my razor away as well. Finally, after my temper was being elevated, Mr. TSA supervisor came over and cleared my dangerous Gillette twin blade.

I'm sure most agents are trying hard, but they need a dose of common sense too!

 

[C601]

Does not surprise me one bit, some of the stories i've heard thru one of my Girlfriends who works for the TSA down in Miami are simply amazing of what they get away with. Its not like there under paid, compared to other workers at the airport.

"We uphold our screeners to the highest standards" Yeah right

 

[wms]

This is minor compared to the rest, but I finished a trip late and was coming out of DFW at 345a and the TSA agents were taking the USA todays that had been left at the news stands.

As soon as they announced they were going to federalize airport security I said it would be less than 2 years before it would become aviation's version of the DMV.