You probably have more valuables on you when flying than on a normal day. Not only your wallet and phone, but also your laptop, money, cameras, jewelry: these are all rich options for thieves.
If you carry these riches with you to the supermarket, you won’t leave them unattended; However, on the plane, you may be separated from your bag in the overhead bin for a few hours.
Airlines do not disclose statistics on in-flight theft – and when incidents do occur, police reports are provided by local forces at the plane’s destination; both make it impossible to estimate exactly how many carry-on baggage thefts have occurred or what the numbers are. growing.
But headlines about high-profile cases are certainly on the rise. Incidents this winter alone include a man stealing $23,000 (£18,200) in cash from fellow passengers on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, and the arrest in Tokyo of a suspected ‘serial’ theft thought to have targeted flights over Asia was taking it. To Europe and the USA.
“Airplane theft isn’t as daring as you might think, and some people make a career out of it,” says Lloyd Figgins, personal security expert and CEO of the Travel Risk and Incident Prevention (TRIP) Group. Travel Survival Guide. “It’s easy for thieves to see where you put your luggage and when you’re distracted. On cheap domestic flights, criminals can more than recoup their ticket costs by relieving tourists of their valuables and avoid having to go through immigration or security control when they land. They just disappear.
How do plane thieves work?
Crimes range from simple to complex. Last summer, the Canadian government updated its travel advice, warning of an increase in theft of carry-on luggage stored in overhead bins and under seats. Often the traveler realizes much later that something is missing.”
In November, Mudit Rai landed at Lucknow Airport in India to find that his bag containing an Apple laptop had been replaced with another. “When the plane landed, I sat down and waited for the others to leave first,” he told local media. Rai initially believed it was an innocent mistake but the incident is now being investigated by the police.
In the arrest in Tokyo, police said the 51-year-old suspect stole passengers’ high-value Euro and US dollar bills by pretending to check their luggage in the overhead locker and replaced them with small Indonesian and Cambodian notes. Notes to maintain the weight and volume of wallets.
Is there CCTV on planes?
Airplanes use CCTV but generally do not look into their cabins. After the September 11 attacks, commercial airlines installed cameras on cockpit doors to allow pilots to monitor anyone trying to get in; but broader surveillance was canceled by aviation unions due to concerns that employees would be unduly observed while working.
A similar story occurs at Terra Firma, as does Eurostar, which does not have in-car CCTV. However, national trains and ferry lines have cameras: this is common practice among companies such as Stena Line, Brittany Ferries and P&O Ferries.
In the absence of CCTV, nothing can monitor what happens in the cabin except the passengers and cabin crew, who are of course trained to detect incidents. “If [crew] “Protocols for detecting suspicious behavior require them to notify the pilot, the highest authority on the aircraft,” he said. “If necessary, the pilot may decide to request the intervention of local authorities.”
What should you do if your hand luggage is stolen during the flight?
If you notice something is missing, notify cabin crew immediately, says Figgins. “Do not wait until you get off the plane, because by this time the thief may have left or handed over your belongings to an accomplice. Thieves often work in pairs or groups to minimize their chances of getting caught. Express your complaint and encourage other passengers to check their belongings as they may also be victims.”
Whether you discover lost items during or after the flight, you should obtain a Item Irregularity Report (PIR) from the airline and report the incident to the local police. “This is hugely important,” says Jonathan Frankham, managing director of travel insurance company World Nomads. “You should also keep all relevant documentation (tickets, luggage tags, etc.) as these are vital for any claim. Keep receipts for any emergency purchases you need to make, along with affected travel plans and booking confirmations.”
Tim Riley, MD of travel insurance company True Traveller, warns that you’ll need “proof of purchase” when claiming cash or valuables. “You must provide a bank statement or ATM report to prove you withdrew the money.”
Before purchasing a policy or consigning your carry-on to a remote overhead locker, check your insurer’s Terms and Conditions regarding “unattended items,” says Riley. “Policy statements may change. Lost luggage is generally covered unless left unattended; This means theft from overhead lockers may also be covered.
How do you ensure the security of your hand luggage on the plane?
“Think of the security of your carry-on luggage like an onion,” says Figgins. “Make it multi-layered: The more security procedures (layers) you implement, the harder it becomes for a thief. Criminals like to choose targets that will be easy and give them the best chance of avoiding detection. Make it difficult for them.”
Place your carry-on luggage in the locker opposite your seat rather than above you so you can see if anyone tries to tamper with it, and padlock it if possible.
You should keep valuables such as cash, passports and electronics on you at all times, especially when you are sleeping or in the bathroom. “As close to your skin as possible,” says Figgins. “Distribute money to different places and never keep it all in the same place. Since passports fetch a good price on the black market, they become especially attractive to thieves.”