crazy.. never heard this until now. Maybe if he files police report (serial numbers, etc) and hopefully will be found somewhere....

 

Sorry to hear, but why is "trying to claim it was stolen by airport security . . impossible"? It unfortunately happens all the time & he could file a police report in JFK when he returns. PITA, yes, & unlikely he will recover the watch, but not impossible & it would at least help w/an insurance claim.

 

Thanks for your responses. His Rolex was purchased in the mid 1980s, unfortunately he did not keep the box and paperwork, so there's no way of knowing the serial number.

So, even though he knows when/where it was stolen, there is no way to prove it.

 

The porters in the airport are often cashing in on the thefts. Bad, but still a lesson.

 

I never remove my watches when going through security and never have an issue being asked to remove them. I go through the 360 scanner where you put your arms in the air and also the walk through scanner and both times no issues. In fact one time I took off my wedding ring (which is just a cheap titanium ring) and the guy told me not to take it off or my watch and I should always keep it on.

 

Agreed, I have never taken my watch off when going through security. I do hand carry my wallet when possible.

 

They have cameras all over the security area. I cannot believe the police would not be able to at least check the cameras? Worth a try right?

I have taken my watch off before when asked (although that is rare) and put it in the tray, but at least that way, if it gets swiped the time frame is only 30secs, meaning the thief should be identifiable.

 

This happens all the time and they are pretty good about reviewing camera footage to find out who did what. If you don't report as soon as possible they record over the footage and then you're screwed.

 

I had an entire gear bag go "missing," on a flight back from Okinawa. When I went to file a claim with United, I was told that I had to wait 30 days, just to see if the bag would turn up.

After 30 days and still no bag, I filed a claim. A month later, I get a letter stating that because I waited so long to file a claim - the implication being that I should've filed a claim immediately...you know...liked I'd tried to do - that I didn't give United a fair opportunity to locate my bag and could pound sand with no further ability to appeal. I lost over $2000 worth of gear in that bag, including a hand-made set of tonfa given to me as a gift from my hanshi (which was worth more to me than everything else in that bag combined).

So yeah, I absolutely believe airport personnel steal from customers.

Regards,
Alysandir

 

Happened to me one time. I was in a rush as I arrived at the airport a bit late for my flight. I put my iPhone in the tray and by the time I got through security on the other side of the security my phone disappeared. Instead there was a $10 flip phone! This was a small airport and there were no other passengers at the security check.

When I asked them what happened to my phone they said someone must have taken it. When I persisted they called a woman who had accidentally mistaken my iPhone for her flip phone. I bet this was organized thinking people who were in a hurry wouldn’t notice.

 

So there's literally nothing you can do with such a high valuable item? There has to be some security footage or something

 

File a police report with the NYPD at the airport for the stolen watch. You should have the serial number and they will follow it up. Homeland Security personnel at the airport have been sucessfully prosecuted before and are caught all the time. To just throw up your hands and say you can't prove it and walk away is foolish.

 

I never remove my luxury watches or any watches when I go through security as the chance of them getting sifted when in a bag is a lot higher than if it were on my person

 

I’ve been in Italy the last 2+ weeks and my watches are safely locked away at home. Sure, I wish I was wearing my Rolex and it sucks that I feel it’s not worth taking the risk. You were probably in a rush but I would have went straight to the highest up you could find. Thief’s are very clever so it may not have been the security person as unlikey as it sounds.

 

Agree with those who don't take them off. One time TSA asked to see it, but i left it on my wrist and he just patted it down. Said nice watch, and sent me on my way.

 

I always keep my watch on. But you should file a police report and have them check the cameras


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Sorry to hear,yeah check cameras,file police report,best of luck

 

You don't have to remove your watch when going through security.

 

The keeping the watch on advice is great. Thank you. I never thought that could happen given you have to darn near strip to get through TSA. I travel little any longer just because of TSA combined with the airlines putting us all in a sardine can and cramming us together.

 

With the recession around the corner one has to wonder what these people will be capable of doing should there be a repeat of 10/24/1929

 

Wait, what are you talking about?

 

I was asked to take my watch off many times. Once another passenger tried to swap my Rolex for his cheap watch! I caught him in the act and was about to lunge at him but a police officer intervened. I was happy to get it back but angry I couldn’t punch the bastard


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Your story sounds pretty far fetched. Or maybe he forgot the watch on the dresser of the hotel he was staying at? Did he call to inquire? When tasks become habitual/ repetitive, sometimes our mind plays tricks on us, and although we’re certain we’ve done something, it turns out it’s just a recollection of a previous instance in which a particular action was performed and not recently.

You’re story isn’t impossible, but how likely is it that TSA personnel would spot his watch, have sufficient time to investigate whether it’s worth stealing, remove it from his carry-on luggage, returning everything to its original place without anyone including your father noticing? I’m aware there have been instances of TSA personnel stealing luxury watches, but in all those cases the watches were just taken out of the trays they were lying in. In none of the instances the watches were stolen while contained in luggage at security checks.

 

maybe he forgot the watch on the dresser of the hotel he was staying at?
You're story isn't impossible, but how likely is it that TSA personnel would spot his watch, have sufficient time to investigate whether it's worth stealing, remove it from his carry-on luggage, returning everything to its original place without anyone including your father noticing it.

This - While it's possible it was stolen, the TSA person would've had to have been a master pickpocket to pull of such a maneuver and the guy didn't realize until HE WAS BOARDING THE PLANE??

If that's how you manage your expensive stuff on the go it's only a matter of time before it's gone.

So:

(1.) Buy insurance, it's < $100 / year.

(2.) Buy pre-check, don't pack your watch, it'll set off the detector unless it's a Sinn, have the dude hold it in his hand in front of you, i've done that for years

(3.) Before you accuse someone of theft, consider your process and accountability - if he didn't check immediately before and after security, and observe the entire time then it's ridiculous to accuse someone.

In this case, there's a 80% probability the guy misplaced it. He might as well accuse the gate agent too. Or the passengers, they probably did it.

This dude misplaced his watch, or was irresponsible keeping track of it, and now he can't take accountability for his mistake so he's trying to blame others.

"it could only be security??" come on, tell your dad to man-up and take a little responsibility.

 

I'm not buying the story, even on the balance of probability, that it was the TSA. It could
be.

The watch bears a serial number and it should have been recorded. It would also be on
service records. The theft should have been reported immediately when it was discovered,
pictures taken of the area (meaning staff), and a police report filed. You can check with lost
and found and also on the stolen watches forum.

I'm sorry for the loss and hope it is recovered.

 

I'm not buying the story, even on the balance of probability, that it was the TSA. It could
be.

It definitely feels this-is-why-you-can't-have-nice-things

 

I am so sorry this happened. That is how i lost my headphones in a similar manner and by time I found out, I was in a plane and it was too late.

I see somebody mention insurance, so maybe someone here can perhaps PM me on insurance and what to pay for? I always have been interested in insuring my watches...

Besides the possible magnetization, was there a reason why he did not wear the watch?

 

those areas are under camera surveillance and you are never separated from your carry on. This story seems odd to me. I travel quite a bit and every hand search of my carry on has been done with me standing right in front of those doing the search. I think that's airport policy.

 

I can't speak for JFK, but I can tell you I personally witnessed a family member losing her watch at the Dubai airport. The pre-screening security a few years back - before the actual check in counters at the doors - she walked in - put her personal possessions on the scanner and her watch didn't make it out. My sister had someone walk away with her laptop. No matter how many cameras - airports are prime places for things to get stolen. I appreciate the suggestions of wearing your watch. I'm not sure about how that works with TSA Precheck tho as you have to through a metal detector instead of that body scanner and they tell you to take off all metal items. Can you request to keep your watch on? I've always taken off my rolex before but if that's the case at least in the US I won't.

 

watchintime i looked into this a good bit before travelling to Norway with stops to & from at Dulles and Brussels. What I went with was 2 watches on straps, put in a watch roll in my carry-on. Since i *really* like to know the time at a glance I also wore a plastic Garmin GPS watch through security. Once on the other side (total of 3 times) we stopped at an empty gate & swapped out for the Omega or Breitling to wear the rest of the way.

If you're bringing a Rolex on a bracelet (that will be me next trip) you can bring a watch box in your carry-on & still swap out on the way to the gate.

Main thing is to keep peoples eyes off your expensive watch *at* the TSA line; if you're extra cautious then don't be messing with the watch at your departure gate or on the plane either.

Read *many* mixed reports about whether TSA or EU security will let you continue to wear a mens steel watch through the scanners. They did let me wife wear her DateJust, never heard a single peep about any woman's watch or jewelry from security.

My last choice - by far - was gamble whether TSA wanted me to put my Globemaster in plastic dog-food bowl.