Potential item theft in checked baggage on VA domestic

[Quickstatus]

be multiple staff from different ground handling firms with access to airside spaces with bags stored waiting for loading. So can be difficult to identify.

Yes
When I arrived in CPH for example the carousel signs also showed who the ground handling agent is. Less transparency in AU

 

[DC3]

How “big” was the item that was allegedly stolen? It seems very random given it was concealed in your bag and that it was found. Not like it was sonething in a side pocket with easy access. Staff also get randomly checked on the way out of airside. Dumb question - but are you sure you packed it?

OP hasn’t been back since posting on Saturday night, so maybe not all that important. Anyway, waiting for more information in anticipation for any response to our comments

 

[Anna]

Maybe they found the item .....

 

[MooTime]

And return the compo.....
Retract the police report....
Retract the stat dec...

Sorry couldn't help myself.

 

[DC3]

Maybe they found the item .....

… and/or have left the building?

 

[jakeseven7]

Maybe they found the item .....

Let’s hope so!

 

[AIRwin]

For @downloadingdata:
theft = downloading
item = data?

 

[RooFlyer]

And return the compo.....
Retract the police report....
Retract the stat dec...

Sorry couldn't help myself.

i’ve addressed most of that when a lost item, suspected theft, reported to police ( not from an airline theft) was later found.

I reported to the possible theft to my insurance, Only an initial report, not a claim by that stage so no later action required there except letting them know via email that I wouldn’t be proceeding. I contacted the police to cancel the job they had logged. Nothing had to be done regarding the stat dec as it was perfectly truthful in what the circumstances were, and didn’t need to change or be cancelled even when the item was later found.

So what’s the big deal in going through that process?

 

[MooTime]

i’ve addressed most of that when a lost item reported to police ( not from an airline theft) was later found.

I reported to the possible theft to my insurance, Only an initial report, not a claim by that stage so no later action required there except letting them know via email that I wouldn’t be proceeding. I contacted the police to cancel the job they had logged. Nothing had to be done regarding the stat dec as it was perfectly truthful in what the circumstances were, and didn’t need to change or be cancelled even when the item was later found.

So what’s the big deal in going through that process?

no bid deal at all, just being cheeky. Nice to hear your process & honesty in regards to your found item.
Karma being karma I'll probably lose an item this weekend on my flight.
cheers.

 

[downloadingdata]

Firstly so sorry for your loss and experience.

Out of interest (and absolutely not victim blaming) did you have a lock on your luggage?

Has VA2 indicated what compensation they will be paying yet?

Thanks. No lock. It was a domestic flight. I was clearly too complacent.

VA replied saying "During an air carriage, the checked-in bag is usually transferred through several departments like TSA, Customs, Security, etc. and if any item from checked-in bag is damaged / lost / misplaced / confiscated while the bag is in the custody of these departments then the airline would not be liable for it."

Never knew that checked baggage going from ADL to SYD had to go through TSA and customs. Then again, I never asked for compensation when I contacted the VA. Instead, my specific request was for them to conduct an investigation, in line with their company policy, to determine if this incident was an isolated occurrence (i.e. if there were other lost items reported for that flight or other recent flgihts) and to identify any potential culprits involved. I also requested access to the report they filed to their group security controller, as they had informed me that such a report had been filed.

Tbh I don't see why a baggage handler would even be bothered to go through your specific bag and then knowing something valuable was in there and then taking it.
They would be dealing with thousands of bags a day, and just decided to open that bag? Seems unlikely.

Unless your bag wasn't actually closed and by the time the bag went through the sortation system the item has dropped off somewhere.

Neither. That's why I never considered the possibility of losing an item inside of the luggage for a domestic flight. But the fact (to me at least) is that it was lost and the item and the bag that carried it is too large to simply have fallen out of a zipped up luggage. The bag was positively closed when i checked in it and VA said they contacted the airport and found no loose items.

I’m sorry that this has happened to you.

Any hints on the nature of the item? Why would it have been a target?

Thanks. It was a single piece of accessory, packed inside an A4 sized linen bag. I doubt it was specifically targeted but I will likely never know.
It was a long day, I checked in my only piece of luggage. Terrible idea, obviously, with hindsight.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

In general you should never pack anything valuable in a checked bag the least of which being in the event the bag gets lost or damaged en-route (remember Montreal Convention only covers up to $2100 USD on international trips). That being said, if you were to pack a firearm in the checked bag (i.e. a pelican bag) my understanding is that it is handled much differently than a normal checked bag with extra tracking and security requirements (i.e. using a hardened padlock that does not have one of those stupid TSA keys). After all, if an airline loses a bag containing a firearm, there's a whole host of paperwork they have to go through. Indeed I know people who pack starter pistols in their checked bag for this very reason.