Thefts at Airport Screening Stations 

If You Travel Via Commercial Airlines and Carry a Laptop Computer Or Briefcase Containing Valuable Material... This is Vital Information to Know.

Its a scam that involves two persons who look for a victim carrying a laptop computer or other valuable carry-on baggage and approaching a metal detector. They position themselves in front of the unsuspecting passenger and stall until their mark puts the laptop on the conveyor belt.

The first hustler moves through the metal detector easily. The second deliberately sets off the detector and begins a very slow process of emptying pockets, removing jewelry, etc. While this is happening, the first hustler picks up the laptop as soon as it appears on the conveyor belt, walks away quickly, heads into the gate area, and disappears among the crowd.

When the passenger finally gets through the metal detector, the laptop is gone and there's no way of proving the person who set off the detector and employed the delaying tactic had anything to do with the theft. In fact, a third hustlersometimes becomes involved to take a hand-off from the first. The computer is quickly out of the restricted area before anything can be done to stop the theft (even if the passenger becomes aware of it while still waiting on the other side of the metal detector).

What can you do to prevent it from happening to you?

Of course the obvious is when traveling with a laptop computer (or any 'hand carried' valuables which must be placed on the airport's security conveyor belt for examination by x-ray) is to try and avoid lines at the entrance of the metal detector.

Better yet... try to fly with a friend and make sure one of you has cleared the detector before either puts anything on the conveyor belt!

When you don't have a traveling companion and there are unavoidable lines, you must delay putting your luggage and laptop on the conveyor belt until you're sure you'll be the next person through the metal detector without delay. And, as you move through the detector, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt and watch for your luggage and laptop to come through (as well as keeping a 'sharp eye' on what those in front of you are picking up).