Did the TSA steal my kilt pin?

**turpin** · 20th October 06, 09:13 PM

I am honked off. I took my kilt on business travel in a kilt roll. Outbound I had the pin on the kilt and feared at the last minute that it wouldn't make it through security (carried the roll on), but it did. On the return I took it off and put it in a zippered pocket of my checked baggage. It wasn't there when I got home. Go figure - some @$$hole baggage handler or TSA goon now has a Clan Gordon kilt pin that he doesn't have a clue what to do with.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 20th October 06, 09:55 PM

AH MAN!! I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE that

**HeathBar** · 21st October 06, 05:29 AM

I would think that if it were removed for security reasons, they would have left a note. Then again, they could have a thief on their hands. I would call the aiport, and bring it to their attention. Question them on the acceptance of a kilt pin in checked baggage. If they say that it shouldn't have been removed for security reasons, then let them know that they might have a security person stealing from the luggage.
What airport was it? If you went through more than one, I'm guessing the departing airport would be the best bet.

**McClef** · 21st October 06, 06:01 AM

Things like kilt pins are placed in hold luggage precisely for security reasons like other sharp objects such as scissors are.

In the unlikely and illogical event that it was removed by security there would be a note and explanation.

So there is likely to be a light fingered explanation and complaint should be made to the airport in question.

One lady on my recent trip to Cyprus didn't get her luggage back for days due to airport error but at least it was all there when she did.

**Riverkilt** · 21st October 06, 06:56 AM

And it can't hurt to ask them if they have anyone named Gordon on their staff...

Whoever has it is due for some BAD KARMA from the ancestors of the House of Gordon...big mistake....

Ron

**Alan H** · 21st October 06, 09:18 AM

On a recent trip to Washington State I bought an inexpensive sgian dubh in a little leather sheath at a Ren Faire. I put it in my hold luggage and checked the bag on the flight home.

When I got home I found the KNIFE there, but someone had taken the SHEATH.

HUH?????????

I think stuff like this happens a lot.

**bubba** · 21st October 06, 09:38 AM

Let me put it this way. I know several of the TSA people at our local airport and have since high school. In all honesty, I wouldn't trust most of them to take out the garbage. They were arrogant punks back in high school and they haven't changed any for the better since. This is a relatively small regional airport and probably not representative, but the quality of their hires for security overall is rather poor.

**irishrob** · 23rd October 06, 09:11 AM

On our last trip from Ireland I put the sgian and a kilt pin and in my gillies with a pair of hose keeping everything in the shoes. When we got home the kilt was there and the belt, minus the buckle. So now someone between Boston and the Washington desert has a pair of "funny" shoes,long socks, a knife and a pin and buckle that probably won't fit any belt in their closet.

I put a claim in to the airlines and in about three weeks recieved a check. No questions asked. Looks like pifferage is not that unusual now that all bags are supposed to be hand checked.

Rob

**auld argonian** · 23rd October 06, 09:19 AM

The thorough searching of checked luggage is one thing but I predict that somebody will eventually come up with luggage that has its own secure compartments. Let them have to hold the flight and ask you to come down and open an unopenable compartment and see how long this crap continues.

They seem to have security cameras on everything else in this world...you'd think that they'd get hip and put them in these luggage handling departments and finally nail the sneaky bastards that pull this stuff. Maybe a class action suit against the airlines by everybody who ever had something pinched out of their luggage...?

Best

AA

**Dirk Skene** · 23rd October 06, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by turpin

....... It wasn't there when I got home. Go figure - some @$$hole baggage handler or TSA goon now has a Clan Gordon kilt pin that he doesn't have a clue what to do with.

Because of my line of work I know a little about this.

Do you know about the TSA approved padlocks? No, it will not make things like this stop entirely, but it will notify you right away that your bag was opened and without a TSA tag on the inside it is an unauthorized opening. This could help give you more of a chance for a case against the airport.

I sell them where I work and one of my regular customers, a TSA supervisor, said that if someone gets their bag off of the conveyor and the indicator has "gone red" they should notify airport police right away.

Many retailers have them. I'd like to suggest CCL or MASTER PADLOCK brands.

Sorry this happened to you Buddy.