by Chances are you’ll have more valuables on your person when flying than you ever would on a normal day. Not only your wallet and your phone, but also maybe a laptop, cash, cameras, jewellery: all rich pickings for thieves.
If you were carrying these riches on a trip to the supermarket, you wouldn’t leave them unattended – and yet, on a plane, you could be separated from your bag for several hours while it sits in an overhead locker.
Airlines do not disclose statistics on in-flight theft – and when incidents do occur, police reports are provided by the local force at the aircraft’s destination, making it impossible to estimate exactly how many carry-on thefts occur, or whether numbers there. increasing.
However, the headlines associated with high-profile cases are certainly on the rise. This winter alone, incidents included a man stealing $23,000 (£18,200) in cash from fellow passengers on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, and a ‘serial’ theft suspect was arrested in Tokyo, believed to be flights he targeted who was transiting through Asia. to Europe and the USA.
“In-flight theft isn’t as smart as you might think, and some people make a living out of it,” says personal security expert Lloyd Figgins, CEO of the Travel Risk and Incident Prevention Group (TRIP), and author The Travel Survival Guide. “It’s easy for thieves to see where you put your luggage, and when you’re distracted. On cheap domestic flights, criminals can more than cover the cost of their ticket just by relieving tourists of their valuables – and they don’t have to go through immigration or security when they get off. They simply disappear.”
How do flight thieves work?
Crimes range from simple to sophisticated. Last summer, the Canadian government updated its travel advice to warn of an increase in “theft of carry-on luggage stored in overhead and under-seat compartments. Often the traveler doesn’t realize something is missing until much later.”
In November, Mudit Rai landed at Lucknow Airport in India to find that his bag containing an Apple laptop had been swapped for another. “When the flight landed I stayed seated, waiting for others to leave first,” he told local media. Rai initially believed it was an innocent mistake, but the incident is now being investigated by the police.
In the case of the Tokyo arrest, police said the 51-year-old suspect would pretend to check his luggage in the overhead locker while stealing high-value Euro and US dollar notes from passengers – exchanging them for small denominations Indonesian and Cambodian. notes, in order to maintain the weight and volume of the wallet.
Do airplanes have CCTV?
Aircraft use CCTV, but generally do not overlook their cabins. After the 9/11 attacks, commercial airlines installed cameras at their cockpit doors to enable pilots to monitor those seeking entry – but aviation unions nixed wider surveillance, out of concern that improperly observed employees while at work.
On terra firma, it’s a similar story on Eurostar, which also doesn’t have CCTV on board. However, national trains and ferry lines tend to have cameras: it’s common practice among the likes of Stena Line, Brittany Ferries and P&O Ferries.
In the absence of CCTV, nothing supervises the progress of the cabin except passengers and cabin crew – who are of course trained to detect incidents. “Two [crew] identify suspicious behavior, protocols require them to advise the pilot, who is the highest authority on the plane,” advises a Vueling spokesperson. “If necessary, the pilot program may decide to ask the local authorities to intervene.”
What to do if your hand luggage is stolen mid-flight
If you notice something is missing, notify the cabin crew immediately, says Figgins. “Don’t wait until you have left the aircraft, as the thief may be gone or you may have given your property to an accomplice by this time. Thieves often work in pairs or groups to minimize their chances of being caught. Make your complaint loud and encourage your fellow passengers to check their belongings, as they too could be victims.”
Whether you notice the missing belongings during or after the flight, you should obtain a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) from the airline and register the incident with the local police for a report. “This is critical,” says Jonathan Frankham, general manager of travel insurer World Nomads. “You must also keep all associated documents – tickets, luggage tags, etc – as these are vital to any claim. Keep receipts for any emergency purchases you need to make, as well as itineraries and booking confirmations affected by the incident.”
When making a claim for cash or valuables, you’ll need “proof of purchase”, says Tim Riley, Managing Director of travel insurance company True Traveller. “You must provide a bank statement or ATM report to prove that you withdrew the money.”
And before you buy a policy – or entrust your hand luggage to a faraway overhead locker – check the insurer’s T&Cs on “unattended belongings”, says Riley. “The wording of the policy can vary. Lost luggage is usually covered if left unattended, so theft from an overhead locker can be covered.
How to secure your hand luggage during a flight
“Think of your carry-on security as an onion,” says Figgins. “Make it multi-layered: the more security procedures (layers) you have in place, the harder it will make the thief’s job. Criminals like to choose easy targets and give them the best chance of not getting caught. Make it difficult for them.”
Put your hand luggage in the locker in front of your seat, rather than the one above you, so you can see if anyone tries to tamper with it – and where possible, lock it with a lock.
You should keep valuables, such as cash, passports and electronics on your person at all times, especially when sleeping or in the bathroom. “As close to your skin as possible,” says Figgins. “Spend your money in different places and never keep it in the same place. The passports fetch a good price on the black market, so they are very attractive to thieves.”
