| Updated: 3/22 9:00 pm |
Published: 3/22 4:47 pm
|
Passengers at Tulsa International Airport have reported losing thousands of dollars in valuables at the airport in recent months.
Jewels, computers and even booze have been reported damaged or missing to the TSA. FOX23’s Scott Macfarlane unearthed the story in Washington.
He found the government is only reimbursing a fraction of the passengers who've filed complaints.
One passenger, named Jacob, was so frustrated he posted photos of his busted laptop on-line. He said it was dropped by a security officer at the airport.
If true, Jacob isn't alone. Our investigation found thousands of passengers nationwide reported valuables damaged or flat-out lost to the TSA in the past two years.
A federal database obtained exclusively reveals a laundry list of complaints at TIA too.
One passenger reported $895in shoes disappeared, another claimed $798 in computer equipment went missing, someone reported losing $260 in books and expensive eyeglasses reported damaged and one passenger claimed lost luggage.
Someone even claimed $895 in *booze* missing.
In other cities, travelers have faced another problem. "We've run into problems at checkpoints where people are actually lifting items from bags. Recently, we've seen TSA people are caught at home with the items they stole from people at the airport," said Charlie Leocha, a travel industry expert.
We found no recent record of Tulsa officers stealing, but learned Charlotte TSA Officer Reggie Edwards is accused of stealing cash from a suitcase.
And an iPad recently turned up in the Florida home of a TSA officer.
MacFarlane also found despite passengers reporting lost digital cameras, jewelry and iPads, the TSA is not reimbursing many of them.
Passengers reported more than $10,000 in property lost or damaged in Tulsa last two years, but TSA cut less than $100 in reimbursement checks.
The agency has an on-line claims process and MacFarlane was told there are investigators on staff. The numbers indicate if your stuff gets lots at TIA it is hard to prove your case and get a check.
A TSA spokesperson says the agency is installing more surveillance cameras in baggage screening areas.
