Inflight theft

Just have your valuables (if you have any) in your personal item under the seat in front or similar. That's what I tend to do. But then don't leave this item on the plane (which I have done, but with a happy ending).
 
You wonder how they managed to do the stealing in such a short flight when everyone would have been awake??

Heard/read several stories of theft on longer or overnight flights when pax are snoozing.

But this is quite something!!

Apparently there are organised gangs who fly certain routes, quite lucrative.
 
 
Yeah I watched a similar story from YouTube - Singapore Crime tv show. It was interesting to see that there were only one theft on board but it’s not… actually two thefts on tigerair.
 
Seems to more effect routes Into countries where it’s common for people to move cash to. Thus it is not uncommon on routes to Singapore from various parts of Asia (eg Indonesia, China, India, Myanmar). Also I believe Dubai from certain countries as well.
 
IF you think about the entire journey, there are quite a few "Vulernable" points along the way
  • At security where your bags could easily be collected by mistake by someone else
  • Ever left your carry on bag near your seat at the gate/lounge?
  • as this article points out during the flight when things are quiet, or even while buys when bags are being stowed away
  • At the baggage carousel where there is zero checks that a bag is collected by its rightful owner
Personally it's that last one that would keep me awake, once they take your bag and walk out, there's very little you can do to recover. And it's worse at Australian domestic ports where anybody can access the carousels directly off the street.
 
Personally it's that last one that would keep me awake, once they take your bag and walk out, there's very little you can do to recover. And it's worse at Australian domestic ports where anybody can access the carousels directly off the street.

You’re probably overthinking it. There’s always a risk of bags being deliberately or inadvertently taken from carousels. Many of these syndicates are mainly looking for quick cash, jewellery and perhaps some cards as a bonus. There’s all of our small amounts of cash and cards that add up, but there’s a lot of cash that gets moved across borders so it will be out of reach of their particular government. Thus carry on tends to be more of a target.

In Singapore I often change money over at Mustafa’s (24hr dept store) FX desk and always surprises me the wads and wads of cash people exchange.
 
You’re probably overthinking it. There’s always a risk of bags being deliberately or inadvertently taken from carousels. Many of these syndicates are mainly looking for quick cash, jewellery and perhaps some cards as a bonus. There’s all of our small amounts of cash and cards that add up, but there’s a lot of cash that gets moved across borders so it will be out of reach of their particular government. Thus carry on tends to be more of a target.

In Singapore I often change money over at Mustafa’s (24hr dept store) FX desk and always surprises me the wads and wads of cash people exchange.
I’d like to know where, and when, bags arrive at the carousel before passengers!!

I’m booking to go there!

I can’t remember the last time i got to the carousel - domestically - and the bags were already there, and hence the possibility of theft.
 
I don't think it's limited to that scenario. Anyone could just grab any bag off the carousel and swiftly leave. Would you even realise your bag had gone ?
I think so! (Touch wood!!)

At least domestically, everyone arrives at the carousel well before the first bag comes out. Most people are keeping a beedy eye out hoping their bag is one of the first!

I’m guessing it would be a pretty big game of chance, too, to take a random bag. It could be filled with nothing valuable.
 
I mentioned this on another thread but late May another pax very strongly insisted that she was missing a bag, had 3 FAs looking around her seat and when checking the overhead, they started opening my carryon. They were looking for a blue bag but my carryon is grey. Mr Denali was quick to say it was my bag but he also gave the permission to look. I know no one had opened the overhead since we put it our bags there and closed it so allowed it, once I understood what was happening

The pax was older and needed a lot of care and seemed to misplace a few things during her flight so I questioned if the bag she was looking for even existed
 
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