Baggage opened on way home

Bigjez

Hi im a bit annoyed. I came back from Lanzarote today and have just realised that the smokes have been robbed from my luggage. I had 200 malboro and 200 superkings in my suitcase and it was only tonight that the wife asked where the smokes where. She had been putting clothes in the washing machine and hadnt come accross them. Well they were definately in it at checkin so between lanzarote and Dublin they gone missing. Bags took half an hour to come through at Dublin end so maybe the boys had a bit of time on there hands dirty rotten Bastards

Ponster

Lost a 60Gb ipod to a bag search at JFK last month.

robinph

Haven't had anything go missing from my bags, but I did get a green sheet of paper left in one once by the TSA to say that they had had a rummage through it. Was only dirty washing in the bag at that stage though.

don65

Sorry, I don't know how to quote but I note you say that the baggage took a long time to come in Dublin. In my experience the baggage takes longer to come out in Dublin than anywhere in the world. I am convinced that the baggage is being rifled through and this is the very reason it takes a long time.......

I too have had items taken my baggage. Friends and members of my family have also had this experience. I rang Dublin Airport to complain and nobody could care at all.

BuffyBot

Unless you report it immediately at the desk in the baggage hall, there is very little they can do.

Even then, I'd recommend locking cases.

Ms Inquisitive

Locking your case might deter them from going through it, but they all have the equipment readily available to break locks!

Bigjez

I have travelled to a few different countries and even in smaller ones where you have to walk accross the runway the bags seem to arrive quicker than in Dublin. No point in ringing the airport cause that would be a waste of time. Locking the cases in future

robinph

Locking your case just tells them that there is likely to be something worth nicking inside it.

juke

BuffyBot wrote: »

Unless you report it immediately at the desk in the baggage hall, there is very little they can do.

Even then, I'd recommend locking cases.

Few years ago, coming back from Canaries, OH, having come thro arrivals noticed lock broke. Quick invesigation and he'd gained a CD wallet full of girlie music, nothing taken.
We went back and tried to let customs know (in case something else had been put in his case - ok i'd let panik mode develop:() and they weren't interested.
Then found a guard who just told us to go home

preddy

Every airport in South Africa has someone wrapping the bags in a clear wrap works a treat.
Most aiports have em incl Dublin, worth the few euros!

zeusnero

happened to my other half when coming to Cork via London - they took 200euros worth of gear.

Nothing you can do reporting wise - maybe the baggage handlers are paid minimum wage and this is considered one of the perks?

only thing you can do is keep the most valuable items in your hand luggage, especially electronics... (the bastids even took my hair razor ).

boardsie08

preddy wrote: »

Every airport in South Africa has someone wrapping the bags in a clear wrap works a treat.
Most aiports have em incl Dublin, worth the few euros!

I never knew you could have this clear wrapping service done? How exactly do you go about it? I've never seen any cases with it, or anyone reqesting it.. would def be interested in it though, sounds like a great idea!

sdanseo

don65 wrote: »

I too have had items taken my baggage. Friends and members of my family have also had this experience. I rang Dublin Airport to complain and nobody could care at all.

Bigjez wrote: »

No point in ringing the airport cause that would be a waste of time. Locking the cases in future

That's because you rang the wrong people. Ringing the airport gets you the DAA, who are not responsible for luggage. You need to contact the handling agent (eg Servisair, Sky Handling, etc...bigger airlines do their own), or your airline.

The idea, by the way that handlers are allowed steal things as perks is stupid...if you have something stolen from luggage REPORT IT TO THE HANDLER who should to investigate it.

don65

sdonn_1 wrote: »

That's because you rang the wrong people. Ringing the airport gets you the DAA, who are not responsible for luggage. You need to contact the handling agent (eg Servisair, Sky Handling, etc...bigger airlines do their own), or your airline. quote]

Apologies, when I said the airport I meant I rang the airport and asked to be put through to the correct area for reporting missing items. (I assume I was put through to the handling area) It was this area that could not care about my complaint.

Also, the reason I did not complain at the time (rather than when I went home) was because I did not think of opening my luggage in Dublin Airport and checking for missing items.

Again, I reiterate my point about luggage taking longer in Dublin Airport than anywhere in the world........seems to me that the baggage handlers have a lot of time back there, with our luggage, with no-one able to see what is going on. Anywhere else, on my travels, the luggage comes straight out making it unlikely that anyone would have time to go through it....

preddy

boardsie08 wrote: »

I never knew you could have this clear wrapping service done? How exactly do you go about it? I've never seen any cases with it, or anyone reqesting it.. would def be interested in it though, sounds like a great idea!

Well in Dublin its under the stairs back wall near the check in desks, they use it for wrapping loose items too. But in SA nearly everyone uses it!

robinph

I'd be more inclined to think that any theivery takes place at your departure airport than the arrival one. You bags are lying around for up to a couple of hours at the departure airport with nobody questioning things, if the bags take longer than 10 minutes to appear on arrival then peeple are liable to start kicking up a stink and complaining. Also if the baggage handler doing the theft knows the bags are on thier way out of the country he'd be pretty confident of not having any one discovering it for a good while.

Dublin is just inefficent at unloading planes rather than they hold up all the bags whilst they have a good look through them for any stray ipods.

don65

A good point Robinph! And one that I had not thought about, I admit.

However, in my experiences, it has never happened to me when flying out of Dublin to somewhere else ie. the destination was not Dublin Airport. The twice it has happened to me was when flying home to Dublin.

Lesson is I never put anything valuable in my checkthrough luggage anymore

Danimalito

irrespective of who's at fault, the airline carrier is responsible for lost or stolen luggage,, there's an EU law in place to that effect

You need to put a complaint in writing to the airline to get compensation

TheDriver

I always lock my bags even though there is nothing in it as aparently security cannot break your locks unless they have massive suspicions but if they want to rummage through it, they must get you to open it for them. Baggage Handlers will go for the non locked cases instead, easier targets. Usually have a crap backpacker type case anyways, never get a brown thomas looking case, asking for trouble.

Leeby

Is there not a restriction on how much booze/cigarettes you can bring with you? i.e. I thought 200 cigarettes was the maximum per person that's allowed be brought through customs? Is it possible that the cigarettes showed up in an x-ray so they opened it? (Obviously, it's not right that they would take ALL your cigarettes, and that they wouldn't even inform you, I'm just thinking that they may be able to use this as a reason for opening your luggage?)

NinjaTruncs

don65 wrote: »

However, in my experiences, it has never happened to me when flying out of Dublin to somewhere else ie. the destination was not Dublin Airport. The twice it has happened to me was when flying home to Dublin.

that just reinforces Robinph's point, if it's easier to steal from a departing flight than a arriving flight (as you would have more time) then if the dublin staff were on the take you would notice it when you arrived on your holiday.

heyjude

TheDriver wrote: »

aparently security cannot break your locks unless they have massive suspicions but if they want to rummage through it, they must get you to open it for them.

I don't think this applies in the US, I think they have the right to search any suitcase and if its locked, they will if necessary break the lock and open it. But you can get TSA approved locks(key or combination) that can be opened by TSA security staff without damaging the lock.

robinph

Leeby wrote: »

Is there not a restriction on how much booze/cigarettes you can bring with you? i.e. I thought 200 cigarettes was the maximum per person that's allowed be brought through customs? Is it possible that the cigarettes showed up in an x-ray so they opened it? (Obviously, it's not right that they would take ALL your cigarettes, and that they wouldn't even inform you, I'm just thinking that they may be able to use this as a reason for opening your luggage?)

If having an excess of fags in your bag is used as their reason for opening it then it's still theft. If they were spotting things like that then your bag should then be tracked until you collect it from the belt and you'd get pulled aside on exiting through the wrong coloured channel at customs and charged.

Bigjez

Leeby wrote: »

Is there not a restriction on how much booze/cigarettes you can bring with you? i.e. I thought 200 cigarettes was the maximum per person that's allowed be brought through customs? Is it possible that the cigarettes showed up in an x-ray so they opened it? (Obviously, it's not right that they would take ALL your cigarettes, and that they wouldn't even inform you, I'm just thinking that they may be able to use this as a reason for opening your luggage?)

yeah 200 is the maximum but i went with my wife. They could have asked and i would have said 200 were hers and 200 were mine. I dont think they can take stuff without asking. Yeah maybe if the whole case was full but its more likely some tealeaf

piscean

Just back from Salou on Friday gone and had 400 smokes nicked from my case - didn't really notice until i got home and was unpacking my stuff, was fuming on Friday night.
I hope that saying "what goes around comes around" happens to whoever took them.

shoelaceface

iv never heard of anything being taken from someones case! i always have a lock on mine!
jeez! il be paranoid now everytime.

stereo_steve

well I think the problems easily solved. Fly with poisoned cigarettes, no ?

holly1

The baggage handlers are taking them and nothing is being done,ie reporting to proper authorties,they are getting away with STEALING cause nobody is bothered going to the hassel of reporting the theft.They must have someone supervising.
Thank god I have never had this problem but if I did I would not give up until I got some answers,no matter how small the object was!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Airports and aircraftcarriers are riding us enough as it is!

rinnin

Have to say, as a traveller from Manchester to Dublin 4 times a year (for the past 3 years) have never been held up waiting for baggage. By the time I arrive at the carousel the first bag usually comes out. And I'm a fast walker!

amdublin

don65 wrote: »

Again, I reiterate my point about luggage taking longer in Dublin Airport than anywhere in the world........seems to me that the baggage handlers have a lot of time back there, with our luggage, with no-one able to see what is going on. Anywhere else, on my travels, the luggage comes straight out making it unlikely that anyone would have time to go through it....

Looks like don65 might have been right

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0814/servisair.html

Bigjez

Listen. This is what happens.all facts. They target the flights from holiday destinations where smokes are cheap cause they know people will bring them back. It's robbed in Dublin. The lads have big jackets with compartments in them that they use to hide stuff. They have an eye on hairstraightners ghd models only and other Small electrical stuff. I met someone at a party and he was telling me this almost bragging but said he never did it.

vixenbees

id say it must have somethin to do with the restrictions. we flew back from lanzarote in june and 1 of my mates got some booze and fags taken, whatever the max was, think its 200 was left in her suitcase. no letter or anything but she had just forgotten about the restrictions when flying from a duty free area. they definately wouldnt have been bothered to question her about this to give her a chance to say some of the stuff was ours, we should have just put it all in separate suitcases. i know it doesnt explain why you got 2 boxes taken but id say they might just throw stuff out of suitcases when they see you've gone over the allowance.

penexpers

vixenbees wrote: »

id say it must have somethin to do with the restrictions. we flew back from lanzarote in june and 1 of my mates got some booze and fags taken, whatever the max was, think its 200 was left in her suitcase. no letter or anything but she had just forgotten about the restrictions when flying from a duty free area. they definately wouldnt have been bothered to question her about this to give her a chance to say some of the stuff was ours, we should have just put it all in separate suitcases. i know it doesnt explain why you got 2 boxes taken but id say they might just throw stuff out of suitcases when they see you've gone over the allowance.

But that's got nothing to do with the baggage handlers - it's the customs agents that should be the ones interested if you have gone over your limit, and as said before they can only open cases in your presence.

amdublin

vixenbees wrote: »

id say they might just throw stuff out of suitcases when they see you've gone over the allowance.

If only this was the case.

I think you might be a little naive here (I don't intend to sound smart if it comes across that way).

If it was customs they would inform you. It has to be the baggage handlers and home they go with them..........as proved by the curent sitation with Servisair.

It's a disgrace! And I am convinced it has being going on for years. I rang the airport after €150 (that I stupidly left in my suitcase) was taken about 7 years ago. They could not care less. I doubt it was reported to Servisair so assume nothing it was ever done.

Bit stupid that there were no cameras etc back there keeping an eye on things.

I agree with what don65 said - I've travelled the world and I've never waited for my bags to come out in any other airport for the length of time it takes in Dublin Airport on some flights. It must be a free for all back there, they all had to be involved in it, or at least turning a blind eye to the ones that are doing it.

Grrrrr! :mad:

vixenbees

I see your point, it must be frustrating. I just thought it wasn't coincidence that it happened coming back from a Duty Free island like Lanzarote where they do monitor how much you bring home so people don't bring 10 boxes back with them n sell them off. Surely some of the times when people think they're getting robbed, its just because they've gone over the limit. Then again maybe its these flights they target because they know they're more likely to get away with it and fob it off as the passanger going over their duty free allowance..? Pretty crappy.

Bluetonic

amdublin wrote: »

Bit stupid that there were no cameras etc back there keeping an eye on things.

CCTV covers the whole of the area at the back of the baggage belts.

The theft occur in the belly of the plane when the bags are being lifted out which is out of sight of any camera.

amdublin

Bluetonic wrote: »

CCTV covers the whole of the area at the back of the baggage belts.

The theft occur in the belly of the plane when the bags are being lifted out which is out of sight of any camera.

Oh ok. Thank you for that.

vibe666

Joe Duffy anyone?

seriously though, the clingfilm wrap is a great idea if you can get it. you'd probably be as well to just uy your own and take it with yuo and just wrap your luggage before you get to the airport.

personally, locks on the cases deter casual thieves and also have the added benefit of alerting you at the airport if your bag has been broken into. if you're still at the airport and you know your bag was opened and possibly robbed, you can check and go right to the service desk to report it and make a complaint (to the right people at the time it happened).

i also tend to put all the valuable (and usually heavier) stuff in my hand luggage anyway, but I think luggage locks and plastic wrap and/or even duct tape is the way forward.

if nothing else your bag will be easy to spot on the carousel.

its the same principle at my house.

my home is not burglar proof, but it has two heavy duty locks on every door that were designed to be next to impossible to pick or bump so as long as it's not a soft target for opportunistic thieves i should be okay.

mikedragon32

Bigjez wrote: »

Hi im a bit annoyed. I came back from Lanzarote today and have just realised that the smokes have been robbed from my luggage. I had 200 malboro and 200 superkings in my suitcase and it was only tonight that the wife asked where the smokes where. She had been putting clothes in the washing machine and hadnt come accross them. Well they were definately in it at checkin so between lanzarote and Dublin they gone missing. Bags took half an hour to come through at Dublin end so maybe the boys had a bit of time on there hands dirty rotten Bastards

Locked. Another thread on this already and this one looks like it would be more suited to the Ranting forum.