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70 Laptops Got Left Behind At An Airport Security Checkpoint In One Month (bravotv.com)
America's Transportation Security Administration has been making some surprising announcements on social media. An anonymous reader writes:
A TSA spokesperson says 70 laptops were left behind in just one month at an airport security checkpoint in Newark. "And yes, there are plenty of shiny MacBooks in that pile," reported BravoTV, "which can cost in the $2,000 range new." The TSA shared an image of the 70 laptops on their Instagram page and on Twitter, prompting at least one mobile project designer to reclaim his laptop. "The most common way laptops are forgotten is when traveler's stack a bin on top of the bin their laptop is in," the TSA warns. "Out of sight out of mind."
The TSA is also sharing pictures on social media of the 70 guns they confiscated at security checkpoints in one week in November, reporting they've also confiscated a blowtorch, batarangs, and a replica of that baseball bat from "The Walking Dead". They're reporting they found 33 loaded firearms in carry-on luggage in one week, and remind readers that gun-carrying passengers "can face a penalty as high as $11,000. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home."
The TSA is also sharing pictures on social media of the 70 guns they confiscated at security checkpoints in one week in November, reporting they've also confiscated a blowtorch, batarangs, and a replica of that baseball bat from "The Walking Dead". They're reporting they found 33 loaded firearms in carry-on luggage in one week, and remind readers that gun-carrying passengers "can face a penalty as high as $11,000. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home."
Actually, this article is much ado about virtually nothing.
According to this page there were 35 million passengers through Liberty International Airport in 2014. That's about 3 million / month. 70 laptops in that pile of people is less than a tenth of a percent. Lots less.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Going through security, I forgot my laptop only to find out in the plane at cruising. I immediately informed the attendant who contacted ground. A person was then sent to the TSA lost&found to pick it up with my name. The funny parts: I had a sticker on my notebook with all my details, including phone no. It was never used. Instead, when picking it up they only opened the lid to see the login name on the lock screen (only my first name), and the combination of laptop description was then used to give the laptop to the airline guy. For me to actually get it back, I had to contact and find the guy on Facebook (only had a name and non-working telno from TSA) no less ! But, I got it back :) And I guess TSA did something good, like not allowing a stranger to sticker my laptop with their details.
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I "left" my laptop at a checkpoint in Dallas. I had to put my bags through the scanner and then was held up for a manual check. While I was waiting I was trying to keep an eye on my bags so noone nicked them but I was on the wrong side of the body scanner so couldn't see them.
By the time I'd gotten through - probably 4-5 minutes of waiting - the tray with my laptop was gone. I have since realised that it was probably because the tray was a grey metal colour, almost identical to that of my laptop, the tray was just seen as empty by a TSA employee and stacked with others.
I was, of course, upset. The TSA kept me waiting completely uninterested in my loss, before finally deciding to help me look through a pile of them. It wasn't found and then I had to go get my flight. I tried to log a report with them and basically just got given a phone number (written on a scrap of paper) - there is obviously no good system to manage this process.
After a few days of basically I was referred to the DWF Traveller's Aid people; eventually I got a call from someone from the TSA saying it was found. The Traveller's Aid were awesome about packing it up securely and sending it to me via courier at a pretty respectable price.
I'm sure a lot of people forget it because they get through security and simply forgot they put it down. I've walked away from security leaving an entire bag there once and remembering only a few minutes later.
I should note: this was by /far/ my worst TSA experience at a checkpoint. I flew a lot in the US in the last two years and I always opted out (unless I was running late). Every time I got extremely courteous and professional responses from the staff.