Airport security screening targeted by criminal gangs after valuables

The busy, pressurised security screening area has become the perfect stalking ground of airport thieves. Photo / Getty

A security worker has revealed the way in which career criminals are targeting travellers going through airport security screening.

Just as holiday makers have let their guard down and are feeling the most secure, they are falling victim to gangs of thieves.

Busy, over-crowded lines of travellers being processed by over-stretched airport staff make the perfect hunting grounds. Full of distraction and the all-too-familiar mind numbing process of airport checkin, thieves have begun to operate within airports during holiday periods.

Cosmetics, designer sunglasses and electronics are the ideal items for thieves looking to pocket high value items out of reach from their owners.

Antonia Collins had just placed her belongings in the trays and run through X-ray conveyor belts, and headed through the metal detectors.

By the time she had made it through - and been searched, having set off the detectors - her tray had been ransacked.

"I was devastated," Antonia, told the Daily Mail. 'Around £300 ($580) worth of stuff was stolen.

"The airport staff were unsympathetic and it was horrible feeling that someone close by had taken them."

The Guardian reported a similar ordeal for Fernanda Ardiles, who had been travelling home through London City Airport during the Easter Holidays.

Separated from her luggage by the screening queues, when Ardiles reached her bag her MacBook Air had been taken.

Having reported the loss of her $2000 laptop, the airport they refused her access to the CCTV footage. The airport instead said it was a matter for the police to make a request for CCTV access.

"They have behaved as though this is a minor irritation, as though it is no big deal," the Dutch student told The Guardian.

"After three days of emails I finally got hold of the terminal manager who said there was nothing he could do, but pass it on for investigation."

It would appear to be an international problem, but one that follows a well scripted and rehearsed ploy around the security screening process.

"These thieves are not that dumb, they are skilled and brazen," writes Stephen Frishling of the US-based Flying With Fish website.

"Everyone passing through a TSA [Transportation Security Administration] check point has a name and a 'positive ID,' he said. "The problem is the TSA and most local police departments do not have the resources to track down minor thefts," and the thieves know it.

Speaking with the Daily Mail, a security guard for a major London airport has noted a trend to what he has deemed career criminals who have bought a seat on a budget flight to gain access to security.

"They tend to be middle-aged men who work in groups. They prey on passengers in the early morning, when people are half-asleep, or at peak times when they're stressed, and target families who are likely to be distracted by children."

The thieves know once they are in the screening area it is an ideal environment. With airport security under pressure to keep passengers moving and a fast approaching departure time "most are more interested in catching their flight than pressing charges"

How not to fall victim to security screening snatchers

• Before you place your belongings in a tray, put valuables in zip up pockets and out of sight.
• Try to keep your belongings in one tray.
• Don't walk through the metal detectors before your belongings are in the x-ray machine.
• Keep an eye on the x-ray runoff.
• If you have to pack electronics, laptops etc. in a separate tray, put this tray through second.
• Carry-on bags should be placed last.
• If you are pulled up for secondary screening, keep calm and keep an eye on your bags.
• Invest in a small combination padlock or cable tie, for any zip pockets you don't need to get into.