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TSA Steals Cigars

Oooo am I mad!  Maybe someone from the TSA saw my rant two weeks ago on inconsistant security standards and decided to get even.

During my regular Monday commute from Seattle to San Jose via Alaska Airlines flight 344, someone stole a portable cigar case from my checked bag.  The case, a gift from my wife, was carrying 2 Cohiba Robusto's and 2 Hemmingway Short Stories - about $100 worth of smokes.

Interestingly enough, I know that the TSA (motto:  “Respecting Privacy, Preserving Freedoms“) opened up the bag - they put a blue tie on the zipper and enclosed a “Notifcation of Baggage Inspection” leaflet.  Which reads:

“During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items.”  I wonder if someone thought the Cohiba's were Cuban and decided to play Customs Inspector.  Then I read, “At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag, which was resealed.”  NOT!

The leaflet gives a toll-free number, 866-289-9673 for the TSE Consumer Response Center.  Well, it's just a recording telling you to go to the web site (www.tsa.gov) to download a claim form.  You can leave a message with your address though.  Which I did.  The page to make a claim directs me to call the Consumer Response Center, which in turn directs me to the web site.  Ugh.  The only privacy being protected is that of the thief's.

I'm thinking that while my cigars were being lifted, the TSA (remember our motto - “Respecting Privacy, Preserving Freedoms“) was making me wait 15 minutes in a line, then suffer the indignity of making me undress by having me take off my shoes, jacket and unpack my briefcase.

Another page indicates that valuables shouldn't be in checked baggage.  They think the airlines are to blame however; “The air carriers retain possession of your checked baggage for the entire trip with the exception of a short period of time while it is screened by the TSA.”

Of course, it's during that “short period” where my bag actually gets opened up by TSA folks.  How else would someone know the cigars are in there?  It's not like they show up on a X-ray and a baggage handler goes - “hey, let's nab that one.”

FYI, if I felt that the TSA was truly helping America be a safer place, I'd be more understanding.

2 Comments

  • TSA a Licence to steal. Unable to carry much, found new laptop , digital camera & video camera missing on flight from Philapdelphia to London (UK). TSA opened the bag and left “Notifcation of Baggage Inspection” leaflet. The claim after 6 months of processing has now been denied. Would take TSA to court if I did not live abroad.

  • Tsa stole a video camera from me. left a notice of bag inspection and.left me with no memories from my trip and. as a single mother of a almost terrible two year old a video camera is a must have. no home movies no way im taking tsa all the way. they frist said they were gonna cover 1/2 the claim wich was $ 1,000 then a certifed letter came in the mail i thought is was a check... Boy was i wron it was a letter saying denied. When you bagged is screened and pifled at security checkpoints its being recorded security cameras are everywhere a tsa claims person even told me this and duh it makes sence..i hope there are others out there that are as mad sad and dertermed to fight for thier missing property even if it is in a federal court. tsa also told me the baggage handlers have access to thoes notice of bag inspections and tried to blame it on the airline carrier and this indencent occured at philladelpha.. im sure so do alot of other similar claims..

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