Hackszine.com: Protect your luggage with a starter pistol

Protect your luggage with a starter pistol

I can't say how realistic this is, and I probably won't be using the advice myself, but Jon Udell wrote about a plausible strategy for subverting the TSA rules into protecting your check-in luggage. The trick is to declare a firearm (in this case a starter pistol) which, by policy, forces your bag to be inspected in your presence and then locked in transit.

I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.
That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.

It's odd that you can't request to have any check-in inspected and secured for flight in your presence. It'd only be worth the hassle for a few people, and it'd save them a lot of grief. Then again, why can't we expect the same level of accountability and professionalism from security-cleared baggage handlers and TSA officials as we can from anyone at DHL or Fedex?

Personally, I just bring any laptops and cameras with me in my carry-on. It presents its own hassle during screening due to the asinine "remove all electronics and put them in separate buckets" policy, but at least they show up on the other end of the flight.

Pack a starter pistol to deter luggage theft

Posted by Jason Striegel | May 17, 2008 09:42 PM
Life, Travel | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

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Posted by: F.O. Loom on May 19, 2008 at 7:07 AM

Luggage

Odd. Just returned on flight from NYC. We found that we both 'suffered' the loss of underwear (dirty) from both our checked luggage. I suggest some psych profiles of the luggage handlers or a search of their sock drawers.

Posted by: Becky Stern on May 19, 2008 at 10:21 AM

Maybe that would have helped me on the way back from Maker Faire! We should sell a "prop luggage gun" kit in the store.

Posted by: Jason Striegel on May 19, 2008 at 8:34 PM

Becky, that's a great idea. It could just shot out a little flag that said "MAKE:secure", all the while appearing real enough that it had to be declared.