How bad is baggage theft at Johannesburg airport?
South Africa's Johannesburg's airport has a reputation for stolen and rifled baggage and a quick Google search returns many travelers reporting similar stories. My question, is how bad is the situation now. I noticed that many of these reports are older--from around 2006--and that the airport authority started a campaign to resolve the problem. Has the situation improved in 2011?
Best Answer
Last night we had a story on Carte Blanche (a South African investigative reporting program) where they said that there are about 140 000 incidents of theft at OR Tambo per year, so the situation is still really bad despite lots of measures put in place. They showed CCTV camera footage of how the thieves know exactly where the cameras are and grab bags off the conveyor belts in such a way that nothing can be seen in the cameras. The bottom line is just that you should never ever put anything valuable in your luggage if flying anywhere in SA - just keep valuables in your hand luggage. Period.
See the following link about the mentioned show with interviews with the head of security and with the Police.
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How common is baggage claim theft?
According to the Department of Transportation, luggage theft is a common problem. U.S. airlines reported more than three mishandled bags for every thousand in March. More than 1 million bags were stolen in 2018. It resulted in $1.2 billion in missing valuables.Do airport workers steal luggage?
Baggage handlers, airport security, and TSA agents may have access to your luggage behind closed doors. While most of these individuals are just trying to make an honest living, there have been numerous documented instances of airport personnel stealing from passengers' bags.How can I keep my luggage from theft at the airport?
Invest in a sturdy identification tag. Lock checked luggage with a TSA-approved lock. Place a copy of your boarding pass inside your checked luggage. Take a photo of the contents of your checked luggage just before placing it all in the bag to prove your case if you need to file a claim.How many suitcases are stolen each year?
According to SITA's 2019 report, in 2018, 4.36 billion travelers checked in more than 4.27 billion bags. The leading provider of IT services to over 400 airlines worldwide further highlighted that over 28 million bags are mishandled each year.Hidden cam shows baggage handlers stealing from luggage
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