Cabin crew crime

Everyone’s heard of brutish baggage handlers who pilfer checked bags. How about stealthy stewardesses picking pockets and more?

The French police have arrested an Air France flight attendant accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in cash, traveler’s checks and jewelry from dozing business-class passengers on dozens of international flights, judicial officials said Tuesday. Authorities arrested the flight attendant on the tarmac at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris early Friday, according to a report in the newspaper Le Figaro. An investigation began in January after five passengers aboard an Air France flight to Paris from Tokyo reported the disappearance of a total of $5,000 in cash. - New York Times (thanks to the lovely Maria for the tip)

Comments

[Dan]

From this article it is clear that the passengers who had their
valuables stolen;would have been better off carrying them
in their person. Preferably in a money belt or zippered pockets
of their shirt or cargo vest.

It is unfortunate that one has to view the airline staff with some
degree of suspicion when one hears stories like the one reported
above.

Either way I have learnt over the years to --" Err on the side of caution"
and keep my valuables on my person at all times.

[Maria]

Excellent point Dan. I must admit I've been guilty of letting my guard down while in the air, assuming that a potential thief has no escape route while the plane is in motion. I'll blame it on jet-lag, ignorance, and probably stupidity too!

When I travel, I carry a small amount of cash including the currency of where I am to land. Any jewellery is on my person under my clothing, passport in a pouch that can go around my neck. But I've forgotten all in my carry on bag under the seat and left it there thinking it is "safe" while I walk around, use the loo etc. I'm thinking of getting one of the small Tom Bihn "Side Effect" bags that has a waist strap so I can also carry a few toilitries etc and have everything hands free. Granted I am not a fan of bum-bags, but this one also has a shoulder strap so I can perhaps carry it messenger style under a coat too.

I've been lucky - never had anything stolen even when I was so tired I could hardly stand up and looked completly lost and vulnerable. All the more reason I learn from such news articles and people's stories. I don't want to make the same mistakes of course. Naturally, the less we carry the less we have to worry about as well!

[Cindy H]

Once I am past security, I usually lock my carry on bag. I may also lock my seat side bag wtih a TSQ style lock. You can hack your bag so that you can lock it.

This gives new meaning to Lucy in the sky with diamonds.