As if taking to the sky wasn’t already nerve-wracking enough,
there’s another thing to potentially worry about onboard your
next flight. In-flight theft is a reality. While not so widespread
to cause panic, it can happen, and if it does a whole trip can
be ruined before the wheels touch down on the tarmac.
Safeguard Your Valuables from Potential
Onboard Thieves with these Tips
While in-flight robbery is relatively rare, it does happen and
largely goes unreported to the airlines, who actively avoid
this type of negative publicity. That’s why currently there’s no
database to run the statistics and see how often it actually
occurs. But by all accounts, it is a known issue, yet it gets
about the same treatment as customer complaints like
delays and broken inflight entertainment.
Most travelers are unaware of the crime until they reach
home or the hotel and notice something amiss. Others
might not realize until they get a ping from their credit
card issuer. Many just assume they lost the item along
the way before suspecting theft or even where to properly
report theft – the airline, police, travel insurance, credit
card company, or all of the above. Not the ideal way to
return from vacation. Even worse if you are starting one off.
To avoid finding yourself in that situation, it’s important to
know some of the tactics in-flight fleecers use and ways
you can prevent your valuables from getting taken on your
next trip above the clouds.
Types of In-Flight Theft
There are two main types of inflight theft; one a more
brazen attempt while the other is an opportunistic approach.
Organized Theft
Much like pickpockets on the streets, small rings of thieves
have taken to the skies. While not as prominent in North
America and Europe, flights connecting through other
regions of the world like the Middle East, Asia, and
Africa have seen increasing action by bold groups of
pilferers. Often purchasing cheap tickets on high capacity
long-haul flights, a couple of hopeful robbers will vet out
potential targets in the boarding area. Noticing which bag
compartment or pocket a traveler might store his or her
phone, tablet, or wallet.
Onboard, the team will keep a close eye on where the
victims stow their belongings and may often place one
of their bags next to it or nearby to limit suspicion. When
the interior lights are dimmed, and vision is low, thieves
will wait out to see if the mark falls asleep, leaves the seat
for an extended period of time, or is distracted, and will then
pounce at the opportunity to rifle through target’s luggage
looking for valuables. Once an item is snatched, it’s often
handed off to the other accomplice discreetly in case another
passenger or crew notices the thief.
Surprisingly, another method of organized theft is done by
rogue airline crew themselves. Former flight attendants have
admitted to and have been caught stealing from passengers,
this form is exceedingly rare, but occasionally these things
happen by the people you’d expect the least. Don't allow a
crewmember to take your credit card away from you for an
extended period while purchasing inflight items and keep an
eye out for any behavior that seems out of the ordinary. The
flight crew has access to parts of the plane where passengers
are not allowed, giving them a safe area for searching. Again,
this is a minuscule fraction of the workforce, and often
crewmembers that turn to theft are caught by colleagues
and fired, but they do exist.
Opportunistic Theft
Unfortunately the world has its fair share of people who
take advantage of others’ mistakes and naivety. This
group of crooks might not have a deliberate desire to
pinch items from other travelers, but when presented
with the opportunity they'll seize the moment. These
thefts can similarly follow the game plan as organized
rings in that they'll notice something of value and wait
it out for the best opportunity to strike and reach inside
your luggage to nab whatever caught their initial attention.
Another tactic is that the would-be crook will notice
general aloofness or wantonness with valuable items
by a passenger and lifts them from a seatback pocket
or open purse that’s in their reach while the victim is distracted.
Opportunistic thieves will also observe if you leave your
purse or bag under your seat to visit the galley or toilet
and see it as a go-signal to rifle through your wallet and
take a credit card or some cash then return it as if nothing
has happened. Generally, these methods take place while
the cabin lights are low, but there’s no telling how brazen a
thief can be if they think they can get away with it.
Simple Steps to Prevent Yourself from
Theft
- Limit the valuables and high-priced items you travel with,
- including jewelry, watches, and cash. No one needs to
- be dripping in diamonds like Elizabeth Taylor while
- sitting poolside in Cabo. Leave your blingy items in a
- safe place at home.
- If you choose to bring along costly items, pack them
- deep into your luggage or inside harder to reach
- pockets, making them more difficult to access.
- Place your bag facedown or with the pockets, compartments,
- and zippers toward the overhead bin back wall. This will
- curtail easy access to your items and make it harder for
- thieves to open and unzip your luggage without drawing
- suspicion. Oscourt makes a great anti-theft backpack
- that also has a USB charging port to limit you having to
- open your bag for others to see what's inside.
- Invest in a set of luggage locks. This set of cable locks by
- Forge is TSA approved, made of durable yet sturdy steel,
- and simple to reset on the go. The added step of locking
- things up isn't ideal, but you'll feel a lot more confident
- knowing your belongings are protected afterward.
- Choose an overhead locker in front of you where you
- have a clear line of sight. Having your luggage close-by
- or in view is one of the easiest steps to ensure you can
- keep an eye on your belongings. By doing so, you’ll be
- able to witness if someone dodgy keeps visiting the bin
- containing your contents. Fighting for overhead locker
- space can get vicious on some flights but try your best
- to avoid storing your stuff behind you where you’ll need
- to keep your head on a swivel. Here's a list of some of
- the best carry-on sized bags with safety features to bring
- on board.
- If purchasing duty-free goods that are not in a sealed bag,
- try to store them inside your luggage if you have free space.
- We’ve all heard the announcement that items might have
- shifted in the overhead lockers during the flight, meaning
- that new pair of Ray-Bans or bottle of Chanel perfume
- might've slipped out of the flimsy plastic bag into the
- overhead bin where somebody could easily nab.
- Never put your wallet or items containing credit cards
- and money inside the seatback pocket. Not only do
- you run the risk of forgetting it there, but your cards
- and cash are also easily accessible if you get up to
- visit the bathroom or take a walk around the airplane
- to stretch your legs.
- Keep your necessary items on you at all times. Those
- include: ID/Passport, a wallet containing credit cards/cash,
- phone or mobile device, and essential prescription
- medicine if required.
Have you been a victim of in-flight theft?
We’re you aware that happens regularly?
Leave any comments or stories below.
Feature image by Nicoleta Ionescu / shutterstock.com
