Police Nab LAX Baggage Handlers For Theft- How To Keep Your Bags Safe

Though I've yet to have anything stolen from my suitcase, many people have. I learned long ago not to put anything in my checked baggage that I don't mind parting with, so perhaps that's why they've left my luggage alone. But in spite of numerous stories about TSA and baggage handlers pilfering from travelers, people still put items of value inside their suitcases. I had a friend who lost his laptop that way.

The latest case is out of Los Angeles' LAX, the third worst airport for luggage theft. After too many complaints about theft, LAPD went undercover to nab the thieves. After months of undercover work, they have detained a slew of baggage handlers. They were stealing from bags in all areas of the airport, from the planes, to runways, to the terminals themselves. The police focused mostly on the Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 4, home of American Airlines, and a few Qantas flights.

Police captain Ray Maltez told local station KABC-TV: "We believe that there has been a culture of being able to take property that wasn't theirs, and that's what we want to be able to put a stop to."

It was not clear exactly how many have been arrested.

Police said they had served warrants, raided airport terminals and seized property at 25 different locations in Los Angeles-area cities.

Those arrested were primarily employees or ex-employees of contracting companies hired to handle luggage and do not work for the airport itself, police said.

According to ABC News, there were 25 search warrants, six arrests and 14 people detained.

As of 2012, Miami International Airport topped the list of 20 worst airports for luggage theft, followed by New York's JFK International Airport. Then comes LAX in the number 3 spot. The rest:

4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

5. Las Vegas-McCarren International Airport

6. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and New York-Laguardia Airport

8. Newark Liberty, Philadelphia International, and Seattle-Tacoma International airports

11. Orlando International Airport

12. Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport

14. Washington Dulles International Airport

15. Detroit Metro Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

17. Boston-Logan International, Denver International and San Diego International airports

20. Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Although you will never totally prevent theft, there are ways to make sure you minimize the possibility:

A. Put anything of value (jewelry, cash, camera, laptop, iPad) in your carry-on bag, and keep a close eye on the bag as it goes through security. TSA employees have been caught stealing, too.

B. Lock your carry-on bag while on the plane. How often does your bag wind up in an overhead bin seats away from where you are. And you can't trust flight attendants either, they've been known to pocket items left on board.

C. Those TSA locks won't help, so don't think it's safe to stash valuables in checked baggage.

D. Right before you are told to fasten seat belts, and prepare for landing, make sure you have put away all your possessions. Check again in the seat pocket in front of you, under your chair, and in the overhead bins before you de-board.

E. ABC News advises to take photos of your packed bag before you zip it shut, and buy insurance. This will add to the average $3,400 the airlines will reimburse you for delayed, damaged or lost luggage. Not sure how photographing the packed suitcase prior to zipping is proof enough of everything you've packed layers down, but it can't hurt. I would also suggest taking a photo of the zipped up bag in case of damage. I've had many bags damaged along the way. And no proof they were not damaged pre-flight. If you've ever seen baggage handlers, they're pretty rough with other people's property.

Sources: Yahoo News, ABC News,