Please share this information with any potential laptop-traveler.
We've recently learned of a hustle that's being employed at
airports all across the country to steal laptop computers. It
involves two persons who look for a victim carrying a laptop and
approaching a metal detector. They position themselves in front
of the unsuspecting passenger. They stall until the mark puts
the laptop computer on the conveyor belt. Then the first subject
moves through the metal detector easily. The second subject sets
off the detector and begins a slow process of emptying pockets,
removing jewelry, etc. While this is happening, the first
subject takes the laptop as soon as it appears on the conveyor
belt and moves away quickly. When the passenger finally gets
through the metal detector, the laptop is gone. The subject that
picks it up heads into the gate area and disappears among the
crowd. Sometimes a third subject will take a hand off from the
first subject and the computer is out of the restricted area
before the mark even knows that it is gone.
This is becoming a widely practiced problem and is happening at
airports everywhere. When traveling with a laptop computer, try
to avoid lines to enter a metal detector when possible. When you
can't do that, delay putting your luggage and laptop on the
conveyor belt until you are sure that you will be the next person
through the metal detector. As you move through the metal
detector, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt and watch for your
luggage and laptop to come through, as well as watching for what
those in front of you are picking up.