Ebay has some real steals (Cameras, Laptops)

[slcsteve]

The TSA reached a mind-boggling new low in customer service this week when it was revealed that one agent had single-handedly absconded with over $200,000 worth of travelers' belongings, primarily cameras and laptops, and proceeded to unload his booty on eBay. His latest haul: A near-$50,000 camera that an HBO employee had been traveling with.

The culprit is one Pythias Brown, a New Jersey resident who worked in the TSA department at Newark Liberty Airport. Finally busted, police discovered an inventory of 66 cameras, 31 laptops, assorted jewelry, and more when they searched his home. How'd he finally get caught? Brown snagged a camera belonging to CNN, and they found it for sale on eBay, where Brown had been converting the gear into cash.

Brown's been doing a great job of it too, with a near-perfect feedback rating on eBay.

Of note: Brown appears to have been taking items from checked luggage in the back rooms of the airport, not carry-ons. (One has to imagine you'd notice your $50,000 camera was missing after it came off the x-ray line.) But since consumers are no longer allowed to lock their luggage (or, at least, the TSA is allowed to break those locks as it sees fit), travelers have no real means of protection when it comes to guarding against inside job thievery like this.

[castlecraver]

Yeah. I have very strong feelings on this subject.

Unfortunately my camera was taken from either Cleveland or Houston, and numerous eBay searches on my part failed to locate any listings that looked like they could be it.

[JCee]

I was seperated from my original iPod in this manner at LaGuardia. I got home and was just sick over it. (luckily the wife bought me a new iPod and MacBook to ease the pain)

[Suzuki]

Now I have even more faith in the ability of the TSA to keep us safe given that they can't even prevent one of their own agents from stealing out of travelers bags.

This also implies that they likely weren't doing a heck of a lot to follow up on complaints - as in a basic check to see if reported thefts coincided with certain employees being on shift...

[Austin]

That makes me feel safe.

[ouch]

For the record, I haven't used the name Pythias Brown this year.

[castlecraver]

This also implies that they likely weren't doing a heck of a lot to follow up on complaints - as in a basic check to see if reported thefts coincided with certain employees being on shift...

They don't. I won't enumerate my calls, letters, emails, etc that've gone unanswered here (because frankly, it just gets my blood pressure way too high).

I was particularly amazed that this agent was just able to walk right out with items. They manage to search every single passenger who passes through a US airport, why can't they screen their employees on the way out? They manage to monitor every other square inch of the airports nowadays, would it kill 'em to put up a few cameras where the baggage screeners work?

I recall one member here who's a DHS employee, and for the sake of him those others who might be TSA employees (and by all means must be assumed to be upright and honest) I can't in good consience rant and rave as I'm often inclined to. But if we're to accept all the obtrusive security checks and restrictions, we've got to be able trust the people we're giving authority to. I for one, regrettalbly, won't be checking any bags in the future. I'll FedEx things ahead if I have to. Heck, with the new first-checked-bag fees, I might as well... and I can get it insured.

[Eagle]

I recall one member here who's a DHS employee, and for the sake of him those others who might be TSA employees (and by all means must be assumed to be upright and honest) I can't in good consience rant and rave as I'm often inclined to. But if we're to accept all the obtrusive security checks and restrictions, we've got to be able trust the people we're giving authority to.

Not sure who you are referring to, but I will be the first to convict and say hang him from the mast. Once you trade in your trust and honor you have nothing left and are essentially dead weight IMO.

[castlecraver]

Not sure who you are referring to, but I will be the first to convict and say hang him from the mast. Once you trade in your trust and honor you have nothing left and are essentially dead weight IMO.

Well, for the guy they caught, I agree they should throw the book at him. And I'm sure its a case of one bad apple spoiling the bunch, so far as my perception of airport security is compelled to go.

But I also have to consider that this guy eventually got caught after months (years?) of thefts only due to sheer volume and the audacity of a certain theft. What about the people who might take just one or two commonplace items when the opportunity arises, and probably never get caught? I have to suspect that for every serial thief in a position of authority like that, there's a significant number of opportunistic one-off amateurs too.

[TimmyBoston]

Gotta love the TSA, it's just the like the BMV but they don't just rob of your dignity.

[htownmmm]

Yeah. I have very strong feelings on this subject.

Unfortunately my camera was taken from either Cleveland or Houston, and numerous eBay searches on my part failed to locate any listings that looked like they could be it.

Now we know what happened to your stuff. Sadlt, they are just now catching the thief-I wonder how long this has gone on and how it's happening @ other airports. Thank you no, I'll drive.


marty

[jazzman]

This also implies that they likely weren't doing a heck of a lot to follow up on complaints - as in a basic check to see if reported thefts coincided with certain employees being on shift...

No kidding. This really seams like the easiest kind of crook to find, long before he exposes his true stupidity on eBay. After they throw the book at him, his supervisors and anyone else who was responsible for handling the complaints that pointed to his shift need to be fired in a way that keeps them out of security jobs for the rest of their lives.