Airline pickpocket strikes as passengers sleep

[Hvr]

French police are investigating whether a pickpocket stole thousands of euros from passengers as they slept on an Air France flight from Tokyo to Paris...

The paper said around 4,000 euros ($5,744) appeared to have been stolen from five business class passengers as they slept on the overnight flight.

Have often wondered about this occurring and if it happens often. Would be interesting to see how it was handled and if all pax were required to remain in situ until police attended.

 

[harvyk]

There is a good reason why I keep my money out of my wallet and elsewhere on my person on any flight where I may sleep.

 

[drewbles]

There is a good reason why I keep my money out of my wallet and elsewhere on my person on any flight where I may sleep.

Agreed. Always wondered why people are so trusting on a plane. My wallet remains on me at all times, with minimal cash. I prefer to travel with stuff on my credit card/debit card and withdraw as necessary.

Also wonder how people can sleep in airports so easily too, simply leaving their bags next to them. I'd not sleep in an airport for just this reason alone, not counting how damn uncomfortable it'd be

 

[thewinchester]

Interesting. I would have thought the cabin staff might have been alert and monitoring the area enough to stop people being taken advantage off while they caught some Z's.

 

[Travel Guru]

That be why I always lock my carry on bags when i sleep

TG

 

[spunkarooney]

Interesting. I would have thought the cabin staff might have been alert and monitoring the area enough to stop people being taken advantage off while they caught some Z's.

I have found cabin staff to be most often non-existant (notably on Qantas), Singapore being the exception.

As for cash, I keep a small amount in my wallet, stored in back pocket, tightly.

These days I use NAB Gold Banking to withdraw cash fee-free from ATMs as required. Cash kept with me is very, very low.

 

[samh004]

I always keep my wallet and passport in a tight pocket, and would like to think I’d notice if someone stuck their hand into my jeans!

Also wonder how people can sleep in airports so easily too, simply leaving their bags next to them. I'd not sleep in an airport for just this reason alone, not counting how damn uncomfortable it'd be

Well last time I did it I didn’t have a bag… and it was the uncomfortableness that kept waking me up so I could check I still had everything

 

[spunkarooney]

I always keep my wallet and passport in a tight pocket, and would like to think I’d notice if someone stuck their hand into my jeans!

Same here

 

[codash1099]

Much more of this and there'll be a call for CCTV on planes.

 

[samh004]

Much more of this and there'll be a call for CCTV on planes.

I don’t see how it could be an invasion of privacy, after all, you don’t walk around a plane in the nude, the only place you expect privacy is the lavatory.

They’d need night vision though if they were going to use CCTV in the air.

 

[spunkarooney]

I don’t see how it could be an invasion of privacy, after all, you don’t walk around a plane in the nude, the only place you expect privacy is the lavatory.

They’d need night vision though if they were going to use CCTV in the air.

I remember some time ago reading something about the US testing, or wanting to test, technology that listened to all conversations on board with a computer analysing the same for signs of stress and so on.

So, I don't think we're too far from CCTV and audio recordings being made in the cabin.

 

[liamg]

This stuff is scary... now while I never have all that much cash on me at all (a few hundred dollars/euros/shekels at a time) my wallet's never on me. I'd rather have my passport in my pocket with my boarding pass, itinerary, etc. because I reckon that would be worse if it were stolen (particularly in-transit) than cash...

When I walk around my wallet's in my back pocket, and economy seats are uncomfortable enough without a thick something making sleep even more difficult.

Perhaps I'm too trusting, but I've never had a problem and I need my sleep

Taking cash out and putting it in my pocket isn't the worst idea, though...

L.

 

[tuapekastar]

That be why I always lock my carry on bags when i sleep

TG

This sounds like a sensible policy and one I'll probably adopt. I just hope no-one nicks the whole bag! :shock:

 

[anat0l]

We can all take due care of our belongings as best we can. It doesn't matter what environment we are in.

Even if FAs were monitoring things, in a dark cabin its quite easy to get away with most things. Heck, someone could probably murder another passenger and no one would be more the wiser until disembarkation.

I wonder how they would root out the culprit. Take everyone on the aircraft and put them into a little room with a heater in it, then go, "All right people. One of you is a thief, and no one is leaving this room until one of you admits guilt." *cue turn on heater*

Either that or do the put everyone in a room thing and search every single one of their belongings. We're talking much more than just regular airport security here.

 

[harvyk]

Here is the thing. If someone gets up, opens up the overhead locker, and stuffs around in a bag, would you think anything of it? Probably not.

It's funny, at the airport if you think someone has even gone near your bag you'll double check over it, but in a plane you'll happily allow people to open a locker with your bag in it, stuff around moving things and yet we just accept that our belongings where not touched.

 

[spunkarooney]

Here is the thing. If someone gets up, opens up the overhead locker, and stuffs around in a bag, would you think anything of it? Probably not.

It's funny, at the airport if you think someone has even gone near your bag you'll double check over it, but in a plane you'll happily allow people to open a locker with your bag in it, stuff around moving things and yet we just accept that our belongings where not touched.

Nope, I'm always on the look out.

I've had to get up to ask people to stop interfering with my bag, notably when they push and shove my bag to squeeze their stuff in.

I'm happy for them to pick it up gently and move it, but pushing it to squash it down is unacceptable.

 

[benhadi]

Either that or do the put everyone in a room thing and search every single one of their belongings. We're talking much more than just regular airport security here.

The problem is, of course, if the stolen items are cash.

Best is to go with TG's suggestion to lock your carry-on at all times. I do that. Curiously, what about ladies' handbags?

 

[auriga]

I like to put carryon in the bins across the aisle from where I sit, so I can see it if the bin is opened. Problem when sleeping though.

I also like the side bins on the upper decks of 380, 747. Feels more secure!

 

[spunkarooney]

I like to put carryon in the bins across the aisle from where I sit, so I can see it if the bin is opened. Problem when sleeping though.

Yep, I do this where possible.

 

[samh004]

Nope, I'm always on the look out.

I've had to get up to ask people to stop interfering with my bag, notably when they push and shove my bag to squeeze their stuff in.

I'm happy for them to pick it up gently and move it, but pushing it to squash it down is unacceptable.

Slightly off topic, but I once got to my seat to find another passenger nearby had taken the last bit of space in my overhead locked with a scarf. I put my bag on top (it’s a scarf) and they barked at me to give it to them instead.

Some people…