Lost luggage

Photography, derived from the Greek word photos ("light") and graph ("to draw"), is a method of recording images by the action of light on a sensitive material. The word was first used by the scientist Sir John F.W. Herschel in 1839.

Conscience is an ability that distinguishes whether one's actions are right or wrong. It leads to feelings of remorse when a human does things that go against his/her moral values and to feelings of integrity when actions conform to such norms. Commonly used metaphors refer to the "voice within" and the "inner light".

The invention of camera has benefited mankind in capturing the astounding beauty of Mother Nature and the memorable moments in one's life. In modern days, it is playing a vital role in monitoring babysitters, to nab shoplifters, to check speed breakers and as security in buildings such as temples and airports.

In our state, photo radars are a source of big time nuisance (and revenue for the state) for drivers who are caught unawares on the cameras.

In recent news, a couple was arrested on charges of stealing luggage from the airport's carousels in spite of the security cameras in the airport. When the police searched their homes, they found as many as 1000 suitcases strewn everywhere in the house. They had been engaged in stealing them for years. The tags had been ripped off the suitcases and a few personal items such as medications were left behind. The thieves had ripped off the names on these vials too. The unsuspecting neighbors had been buying things from their frequent yard sales. The airport has said that although the airlines have security checks in many places, precautions did not include matching claim checks with the bags, due to manpower deficiencies. So anyone could easily walk into an airport baggage claim area and walk out with a suitcase.

Even powerful photo cameras to nab these thieves seem to have become dim to match the dimming inner lights of such human beings!

Dear Usha,

I have the privilege to post my first comments on yr blog, for which i have been waiting a long time.

In spite of all the technology, the airport cannot catch these theives eh !
We had an interesting case here in jaipur a few years back.One traveller, used to travel frequently between mumbai ahmedabad and jaipur , and suppose he came from mumbai to jaipur, he would take his luggage, and hand it to his friend outside, who would go sit in the car, and this fellow would complain that my luggage has not come, and would show the tag, and take the clain running into thousands.

One day his luck ran out.

See here, in india, they dont , these days, check ur luggage tag, and the bag that u are taking out,so u can always claim the bag even these days. i know the flaw, and see it day in an day out, but whom to say this .Everyone wats to save on the man power.

And yes u rightly say, that man's consience has dimmed, sad indeed.

and 1000 bags found eh ! and frequent garden sales.ingenious theives i must say.HAHA

Damn good one, and u say u aer out of ideas eh !

Regards

kamal

Usha, you do bring out a good point - in many airports including my own, the luggage carousel is right near the entrance, even before the security check. That literally means, you can walk in hang around for a few minutes and just go there and pick out a luggage or 2 or 3 or a 1000 as in this case and infact move between carrousels and no one would even suspect you! I bet all this worked out well as long as one honored the honor system - as you mentioned. We as ordinary people don't even want to touch someone elses, but if you are thief this is a very easy idea (ofcourse I think like this after I came to know about this) and who can blame theives - they are always looking for ways. As you rightly said, we still need man power to keep some men under check - honestly a guy watching on a security camera hardly knows if it is the real owner. I myself don't even go by tags, but by the looks of my suitcase and rarely double check with tags!!

Dear Usha,
Only yesterday i saw a news that a managing directer of a company picked up the black berry of a co passenger at the security check point and walked away with it at Delhi airport. But he was identified by the CISF using CCTV footage. He flew to Chennai in the morning and was back to Delhi in the evening and he was nabbed the security force. But he sensed that he was being watched and so he through the phone in the toilet and at first he refused stealing the phone. But when he was shown the CCTV footage he confessed and was arrested. What a shame! A person in high position caught stealing. But smart ones out beat the security some how.
Love,
PS

Dear Usha,
I really liked your connection of conscience and camera.

Lost luggage actually is really big problem, most often we get back a tattered bag, at times it is lost. I suppose most airports have this racket going on, it is an organized crime.

At least now cctv has come in handy, those days it was just our luck or bad luck.

May be in future tracking devices will be there
Hope this works
Jaya

Hi Usha,
Nice post!
"In our state, photo radars are a source of big time nuisance (and revenue for the state) for drivers who are caught unawares on the cameras."

Usha, I wish there is one in our state, as there are lot of people who are speeding. I always go by the speed limits. People who speed think that they are doing a great thing and look at us an amateur driver.
"So anyone could easily walk into an airport baggage claim area and walk out with a suitcase. "

What you have said is very true, Usha. Hope, the airlines bring new set of rules and tracking devices to prevent luggage thefts.

Thanks Kamalji for the first fb.

This Jaipur luggage thief certainly has some nerve! In Tamil there is a saying "a long time robber will be caught one day". Hope that I have translated correctly.

After every trip to India, I decide that hereafter we must travel light so that we don't have to wait for the baggage at the carousel or the inconvenience of baggage getting delayed or lost. But by the next trip, it is the same story all over.

Once again, thanks Kamalji for prompting me to write with your encouraging words.

Dear Sabitha

I guess walking away with someone else's luggage has become as easy as slipping away with someone else's sandals outside temples!

I too go by the looks if it is a suitcase due to its shape, color or condition. But most pull-ons look same, especially if they are in black color. I try and remember to tie a small colored ribbon to identify mine. Sometimes, like in Aladdin's story, it happens that all roll-ons would have a colored ribbon!

Thanks for the neat fb.

Dear PS

Thanks for sharing the news item. Indeed it is a shame that the managing director for a company would stoop so low.

Desire to own things is not evil as long as it is not the desire to own things that belong to others..

Dear Jaya,

Just as a camera captures fraudulent actions, conscience works in keeping check of the fraudulent thoughts of the minds. But it seems that such thieves have put it to deep sleep.

Thanks Jaya for dropping in and the fb.