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TSA Professional Steals $47k CNN Cam;sells On EBay  
User currently offlineLuv2cattlecall From United States, joined Sep 2007, 1479 posts, RR: 2
Posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 6010 times:
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A TSA screener at EWR was caught stealing high value items and selling them on eBay - the thing that did him is was when he decided to list a $47,000 CNN camera which they, of course, noticed. He worked behind the counter screening checked bags.

On the plus side, he does have great feedack:

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...irla&ftab=AllFeedback&myworld=true

Bail is set at $100,000 - feel free to use Paypal if you'd like to donate to his cause. He's currently on paid leave...your 9/11 security fee dollars at work.

http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/ts...mself-to-a-47-900-camera-and-more/

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...aggagethe1008oct08,0,1848965.story


When you have to breaststroke to your connecting flight...it's a crash!
42 replies: All unread, showing first 25:
 
User currently offlineAJO From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 533 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5972 times:

Well, I wouldn't call the guy a "professional", considering his behaviour...

He sold some nice stuff though, looking through his ebay feedback.


Ryanair: never again!
User currently offlineFXramper From United States, joined Dec 2005, 5061 posts, RR: 98
Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5962 times:

You see the other items he's sold in the past on eBay? No doubt he stole them too and sold.

Thousands Standing Around.

User currently offlineAcelanzarote From Spain, joined Nov 2005, 485 posts, RR: 1
Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5953 times:

yes, but he was not standing around! He was busy checking for items to lift....!!!!


from the Island with sun and great photo's.. Why not visit Lanzarote
User currently offlineThorben From Germany, joined Sep 2005, 3233 posts, RR: 4
Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5920 times:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AWw7t5zj0

User currently offlineNorcal773 From United States, joined Feb 2007, 1118 posts, RR: 11
Reply 5, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5855 times:

Did he steal the bike shown on his Ebay profile picture while screening it too?  biggrin 


If you're going through hell, keep going
User currently offlineKhobar From United States, joined Mar 2006, 2334 posts, RR: 3
Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5744 times:
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He didn't steal the $47,000 camera from CNN - he stole it from HBO. However, he did steal A camera from CNN.  Wink

"Pythias started small, stealing cameras, laptop computers, gaming consoles and eventually moved on to the good stuff including a video camera belonging to CNN, and a $47,900 camera stored inside the bag of an HBO employee."

User currently offlineLHR777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 7, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 5466 times:

The HBO crew flew CO18 EWR-LHR a few weeks ago. I met them on arrival and had to do all the police reports for the stolen items. I'm glad this scum-bag TSA guy has been found out, he deserves to be in jail.

User currently offlineHighguy76 From United States, joined Jun 2003, 183 posts, RR: 1
Reply 8, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 5293 times:

OK, I have to ask this...

I know it must be fairly large, and probably not carry on size, but who puts a $47,000 camera in checked luggage out of EWR?

There has to be a better way of shipping equipment.

HG76

User currently offlineNASCARAirforce From United States, joined Feb 2005, 1773 posts, RR: 4
Reply 9, posted (1 year 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 5274 times:

Oxymoron - TSA Professional

Quoting FXramper (Reply 2):
Thousands Standing Around.

Thousands Stealing Again

User currently offline57AZ From United States, joined Nov 2004, 2490 posts, RR: 3
Reply 10, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5059 times:

Anybody read recently about the large number of TSA uniforms and restricted access badges that the TSA has lost over the years? What a bunch of maroons!


"When a man runs on railroads over half of his lifetime he is fit for nothing else-and at times he don't know that."
User currently offlineLHR777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 11, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 4952 times:



Quoting Highguy76 (Reply 8):
I know it must be fairly large, and probably not carry on size, but who puts a $47,000 camera in checked luggage out of EWR?

There has to be a better way of shipping equipment.

It wasn't just a 'checked bag'. It was in a professional hard-sided, locked camera case, as used by TV crews across the world.

User currently offlineKevinDCA From United States, joined Aug 2000, 97 posts, RR: 3
Reply 12, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 4823 times:

This is pathetic, but hardly surprising. There is a certain percentage of people in ANY profession who will take advantage of an opportunity to steal or take what isn't theirs. No matter how many background checks you do, no matter what the salary is, no matter how many references you check, dishonest people slip through and figure out a way to steal.

I think the average TSA front line employee is pretty decent and honest and just trying to do their job. This guy was a sleazebag, but the bottom line is TSA management doesn't apparently have any kind of deterrent in place to scare this guy or others like him from stealing. It's a shame, but if CCTV, pat-downs and bag checks are what comes from this, it's obviously overdue, all thanks to a small minority of workers.

User currently offlineRussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 3377 posts, RR: 16
Reply 13, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4737 times:



Quoting Luv2cattlecall (Thread starter):
He's currently on paid leave...

I suspect that might be because in your country, allegedly, I had heard you were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Is that not true? That is how the law works here anyway (or at least is supposed to).


Coca-Cola - Пойло Для Идиотов!
User currently offlineAtlanta From United States, joined Jun 2008, 470 posts, RR: 1
Reply 14, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4700 times:
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Quoting Thorben (Reply 4):

I knew, someone eventually would pull out the "TSA Gangstaz" video.  sarcastic   Big grin


Welcome To The New Delta- The World's Largest Airline
User currently offlineDispatchguy From United States, joined Jan 2006, 928 posts, RR: 2
Reply 15, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4663 times:

Another meaning for TSA

They Steal Assets


Nobody screws you better than an airline job!
User currently offlineManu From Canada, joined Dec 2004, 386 posts, RR: 10
Reply 16, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4491 times:

Who polices the police? That is what immediately comes to mind for me with respect to this case. And this is yet another reason I carry on whenever I can!

User currently offlineRussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 3377 posts, RR: 16
Reply 17, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 4468 times:



Quoting Manu (Reply 16):
Who polices the police?

Evidently someone in this case, seeing as the guy is going to court.


Coca-Cola - Пойло Для Идиотов!
User currently offlineSaab2000 From Switzerland, joined Jun 2001, 1313 posts, RR: 10
Reply 18, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 4463 times:



Quoting AJO (Reply 1):
Well, I wouldn't call the guy a "professional", considering his behaviour...

I think that was intended to be ironic...

Too Stupid for Arby's
The Slow Americans


smrtrthnu
User currently offlineKokolojc From Indonesia, joined Jan 2007, 11 posts, RR: 0
Reply 19, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 4223 times:

Another case of ignorant, useless screeners which happen to be a federal agent.....sad...so sad and they should be ashame of themself


737 is the sexiest aircraft Boeing ever produced !
User currently offlineTjwgrr From United States, joined Mar 2000, 1822 posts, RR: 4
Reply 20, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3950 times:

And these are the folks supposedly looking for weapons and explosives...... more like looking for cameras and laptops.

What a disgrace.


Direct KNOBS, maintain 2700' until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 26 left approach.
User currently offlineLuiePL From United States, joined Apr 2007, 57 posts, RR: 0
Reply 21, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3400 times:

This is why I take my camera and laptop through screening and carry-on. If they want my smelly drawers, let em. They won't be getting $2k in electronics though.

Quoting Saab2000 (Reply 18):
Too Stupid for Arby's

This is probably my favorite LOL


-Luie PHL-
User currently offlineHangarRat From United States, joined Jul 2005, 593 posts, RR: 0
Reply 22, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3257 times:

The solution is clear to see from the standpoint of someone who's spent his professional life watching government clusterf--ks taking shape:

We need to authorize a Transportion Security Administration Security Administration as soon as possible. Convene a special session of Congress!

Seriously though, doesn't the TSA have an internal affairs division, or is it up to local police to watch the watchers?


Spell check is a false dog
User currently offlineYYZatcboy From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 478 posts, RR: 0
Reply 23, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3257 times:



Quoting RussianJet (Reply 13):
I suspect that might be because in your country, allegedly, I had heard you were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Is that not true? That is how the law works here anyway (or at least is supposed to).

If I stole anything on the job, I would be fired and arrested on the spot. I don't know of any job that would put me on paid leave if I stole something there.

I would assume it's the same in the USA. It might have something to do with the fact that he is a federal agent.

User currently offlineChuchoteur From France, joined Sep 2006, 255 posts, RR: 0
Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3021 times:



Quoting Highguy76 (Reply 8):
There has to be a better way of shipping equipment.

Not really...

going the other way, I've just shipped 2 gift packs for a charity auction in the USA.
currently, my shipping department allow 7 days for US Customs.

The shipment went on 11/10/08 morning, was in USA 11/1/08 afternoon local time, and has been stuck with US customs ever since. There are 4 books and some pens in the pack, US customs are asking "HOW MANY PAGES ARE IN THE BOOK" and "WHAT MATERIALS ARE THE PENS MADE OF" before they will CONSIDER releasing the goods...

Incidentally, for the pens we had to fill in a non-hazardous liquids form (for the ink), and we abstained from sending T-shirts as otherwise we would have had to fill in a textile materials declaration form...

... can you immagine shipping a camera? especially one that requires a temporary import declaration form as it will then be exiting the country again?

next time, it's going into my checked luggage and flying with me... *sigh

User currently offlineHangarRat From United States, joined Jul 2005, 593 posts, RR: 0
Reply 25, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2426 times:



Quoting YYZatcboy (Reply 23):
If I stole anything on the job, I would be fired and arrested on the spot. I don't know of any job that would put me on paid leave if I stole something there.

In the US, we go by the maxim that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. Don't know how things work up there in the Great Frozen North.  wink 

It's common among most government jobs that an employee accused of a crime or other misconduct is reassigned or suspended with full pay and benefits until the disposition of charges. To stop someone's pay before they're convicted would be unjust punishment in the eyes of the law.

However, I would support a change in the law that requires a public employee convicted of a crime to repay salary collected between the filing of charges and the date of conviction. That would be fair to the taxpayer and public employees and would ratchet up the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution.


Spell check is a false dog
26 YYZatcboy: you guys are the same as us, which stems from the British system. The only system that I know of in the west that does not follow that principle is t
27 RussianJet: Why?? What if you actually are innocent? Why should you be put through hell to be then found innocent? If you are guilty then the punishment will com
28 YYZatcboy: The way it should be is Leave Without Pay, and if you are found innocent then get back pay for the duration of the leave. I don't have a problem if he
29 Spacepope: Well theres your problem! Locks mean "steal me" to TSA, though our company has only had one digital camera get liberated by airport security agents.
30 AirportSeven: Some days, I wish that I could could write up LOI's for the TSA and then make them spend months running around in circles trying to answer them. Most
31 RussianJet: I can understand where you're coming from, but it still basically equates to punishing someone before they are proven to be guilty.
32 YYZatcboy: It's not though because they don't end up any further behind if they are innocent. If they are guilty they don't get anything extra. Either way this i
33 Mirrodie: More appropriately: Thieves Standing Around Thieves Steathily Acting.
34 RussianJet: A potentially long time without pay is harsh. I wouldn't say it doesn't disadvantage a person, even if they got paid back if proven innocent. Have to
35 Bennett123: I also remember News stories about "Thiefrow", I suspect that it happens at all Airports to varying degrees. However, the USA is the only place where
36 Litz: I'm still trying to get over the fact that the guy got this fairly sizable piece of equipment out of the sterile area, to begin with! A laptop or GPS
37 MWHCVT: This I find interesting because I happen to have a security badge that I have to wear at all times when at work from getting into the carpark in the
38 AirCop: Not true, if the internal investigation shows what he is accused of actually happened the TSA person will be fired at once.That's the same for most g
39 Post contains links ShyFlyer: Actually, we can lock our luggage. We must use an approved lock though.
40 Post contains links Vivavegas: I have not checked in through MIA lately, but do they still have those vendors/machines that stretch wrap your luggage? Wondering with the new TSA stu
41 FXramper: A year or so ago, I had a TSA agent try and take my iPod. After running it through the screener once, they took it from my bag and ran it several more
42 Bennett123: Still a prob if the lock is built into the case, but definately a move in the right direction.
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