Passengers waiting to board with "hand-luggage" |
However, with so many expensive electronic items such as iPads and digital cameras being taken away these days, your hand luggage becomes a high value piece of kit. There are notices up at all airports warning you to be vigilant and not leave any piece of luggage unattended etc but its on the actual flight that you really need to observant!
Totally crammed overhead locker |
I would like to draw your attention to an attempted robbery on a flight witnessed by a retired police officer. Shortly before landing he thought that he noticed his bag being replaced in the overhead locker, but wasn´t sure and decided that it was probably a fellow passenger moving it to access his own bag. Upon landing something told him to check his bag to make sure nothing suspicious had occurred - his bag was NOT directly above him, and when he examined it he noticed all his wife´s jewellery and some cash had gone missing. They quickly shouted for assistance from the crew and managed to block the exits before any more passengers had managed to disembark.
The victim then pleaded with the remaining passengers to check their own bags at which point three fellow travelers reported that they had also been robbed. He vaguely remembered seeing a passenger wearing a white baseball cap and it turned out to be someone standing directly in front of him, who once identified proceeded to offload money, jewellery, camera and electronic equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Sleeping passengers - unfortunately easy victims! |
1. Hand luggage should ALWAYS be locked.
2. Do not assume hand luggage under your seat is safe either - a passenger had her purse stolen by a guy next to her whilst she slept.
3. Don´t assume that everyone on the plane is a law abiding citizen like yourself.
4. If in doubt, wear or keep valuables ON you.