Jackdaws
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Clearly I am not the only one -
Be careful when you're going through the security check at HKIA.
Reported in "The Standard":
"Beatrice Siu
Friday, August 21, 2009
Three security staff have been arrested on suspicion of theft and 10 suspended from duty following police allegations that illegal bookmaking syndicates have penetrated into the security arm of Chek Lap Kok airport.
Police stumbled onto the bookmaking activities after an American tourist reported US$1,000 (HK$7,800) in cash had been taken from her bag during a security check while in transit on July 25. After going through an X-ray check, the woman was submitted to a second check by a security officer who opened her bag to check its contents.
The whole process lasted only about 10 seconds but, before boarding the plane, she discovered the money missing and immediately reported it.
The CCTV showed the supervisor was involved, but he admitted taking only US$100 "out of greed."
Police confirmed three people were arrested on July 27, two days after the tourist reported the theft. The alleged illegal bookmaking syndicate was discovered during its investigation. Those arrested included the security officer, surnamed Ching, 27, who was also accused of involvement in the syndicate, lending money at excessive interest rates and possession of dutiable cigarettes. Ching had been with the company for six years.
The other two arrested were a supervisor surnamed Lau, 36, and a staff member surnamed Shek, 45.
All three have been released on bail, with Lau to report to police at the end of the month and Ching and Shek by the end of September.
Aviation Security Company execut
ive director Sidney Chau Foo-cheong said he is shocked at the bookmaking allegation as there had never been even the slightest suspicion in the past. He also insisted all security personnel undergo intensive background checks during the selection process.
"We will install more CCTVs at the security check zones," he said when asked what further measures could be taken. The company, which has about 3,200 employees, will also strengthen its supervision of staff and improve its intelligence network and training.
He denied any conspiracy between the supervisor and the staff member who operated the X-ray machine.
An Airport Authority spokeswoman said it has asked the security company to submit a full report of the incident. The authority will also review the company's security arrangements.
Travel Industry Council chairman Joseph Tung Yao-chung said he was astonished and described the incident as "unacceptable."
Tourism lawmaker Paul Tse Wai- chun expressed concern as the theft could affect Hong Kong's reputation as a tourism hotspot.
He urged closer monitoring of airport security, more CCTVs and clear guidelines on staff conduct."
Stealing at Chek Lap Kok is 'major concern'; travellers told to look out
Thefts at Hong Kong's airport have nearly doubled in a year, and overall crime has risen by half. Police say thefts from travellers are now a major concern.
Instances of theft jumped from 352 in 2005 to 677 last year, police figures obtained by the Sunday Morning Post show.
There were nine rapes or indecent assaults at or around the airport on Lantau, up from five in 2005, and 21 serious assaults. Airport police also dealt with 31 instances of fraud or forgery. The figures are the most recent available.
Billy Cheng Tak-sun, chief inspector in charge of operations for the airport district, said tackling the jump in thefts had been made a priority.
The only issue at the airport to which police now attach higher importance is aviation security, which involves combating crimes such as terrorism.
'Theft of baggage and personal belongings is a major concern,' Chief Inspector Cheng said.
Police have not ruled out an organised syndicate operating out of the airport, but said much of the crime appears to be opportunist.
Overall crime at the airport increased from 721 incidents in 2005 to 1,075 in 2006, a jump of 49 per cent. The rise compares with a year-on-year jump of 9.1 per cent in passenger traffic, to 44.4 million, last year. The crime wave appears to have continued this year.
Park Kyung-jin, a South Korean marketing executive based in Hong Kong, lost her laptop computer, passport, Hong Kong identification card, watch and two mobile phones in a snatch and grab incident at Chek Lap Kok a month ago.
Ms Park, who had paused upon entering the arrivals hall to greet a friend, estimates the robbery cost her US$9,000.
'I said, 'Hi' for maybe five seconds, and my bag was gone,' she said. 'My friend ran after him, and I went to the police, but their reaction was, 'We will have to fill in a report'.'
Ms Park said police told her that crimes were often committed at the airport.
'They said the airport is not that safe. I found that quite surprising because you always think of Hong Kong as such a safe place,' she said.
Chief Inspector Cheng said the officers who dealt with Ms Park's case should not have told her that crimes happened regularly at the airport.
The chief inspector said the majority of crimes at Chek Lap Kok happened inside the terminals or close to the entrances to the terminals.
Most of the thefts happened in the public areas rather than at the baggage carousels.
'Most of the time, people who come to the airport are focusing on other activities, not focusing wholly on their personal belongings,' he said.
Chief Inspector Cheng said passengers may not always be paying sufficient attention to their belongings.
'They could be having a sip of coffee or using the internet and not really considering the valuable items they have with them,' the chief inspector said. 'It's all common sense, really. You're carrying a lot of valuables at the airport, so you should be more vigilant.'
Chief Inspector Cheng said there could be many reasons behind the increase in crime at the airport, and he would not want to speculate.
However, he said the rise could be explained in part at least by the rise in passenger traffic through Chek Lap Kok in the past few years.
Link - http://www.scmp.com/article/620567/surge-thefts-hk-airport-worries-police
