The brazen way airport thieves are targeting us
A security guard, who has worked for one of London’s major airports for more than 10 years, has revealed to the Daily Mail the cunning new criminals preying on stressed out or tired passengers at “chaotic” airport security areas.
Thieves are reportedly booking cheap seats on flights, so they are permitted through to the security screening areas, then deliberately targeting trays filled with valuables.
The security worker said thieves snatched anything from wallets to laptops, and once even managed to take off with widow’s bag containing her deceased husband’s ashes.
“They tend to be middle-aged men who work in groups,” the security officer revealed.
“They prey on passengers in the early morning, when people are half asleep, or at peak times when they’re stressed, and target families who are likely to be distracted by children.”
While the criminals are caught on CCTV and police are contacted immediately after complaints are made, the security guard admitted often charges weren’t brought forward because passengers were in too much of a hurry to catch their flights.
“Until around eight years ago, passengers would be dealt with by one officer – now officers have to deal with four passengers at a time,” he said.
“The trays often emerge quicker than the person going through the body scanner. Passengers get caught in a backlog and there’s nobody to watch for thieves.”