Bon Voyage?

Reema Sisodia investigates the phenomenon called airport crime

Ashok Singhvi, general manager - marketing of a multinational, was returning to Mumbai after a business trip to Europe. After stepping out of the airport, he noticed that his driver was not there to receive him. He left his baggage and walked towards the car park to see if his car was there. When he turned, his luggage was gone.

Recently outside Milan Airport, Preeti Shah (name changed), systems specialist, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was a victim of bag lifting. As she was waiting outside for a taxi, a woman threw chocolate sauce and snatched the briefcase which contained documents, cash and credit card.

Mala Rastogi was coming from New York to Mumbai with her life’s savings in the form of gold jewellery and other valuables. At New York, the officials told her to deposit her valuables in the check-in baggage. It turned out to be the worst advise she received in her life. When she reached Mumbai airport, all the goods had been taken and replaced with foreign chocolates.

Rohan Mehta was at the check-in counter of an airport when a well-dressed and eloquent fellow passenger accosted him and struck up a conversation. In the aeroplane, Mehta found that his palm-top and gold cigarette case was missing. Later, the airport’s CCTV showed that the fellow passenger had robbed him.

To name a few things the business traveller of today has to guard himself against: bag lifting, baggage tampering, pilferage, touting, and money exchange rackets. Though the modus operandi changes from airport to airport, in Indian airports the primary problem is that of touting and the harassment and crime which these touts foster. Their modus operandi ranges from passenger harassment at the taxi service region to creating an artificial scarcity of trolleys and then charging a fee to provide one.

Said a source from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), under whose jurisdiction the law and order in most Indian airports have fallen since the heightening of terrorist threats, “Overcrowding outside airports is the primary reason for touts to flourish. The solution is to streamline traffic movement and clearing the area outside the airport.”

Bag-lifting and bag tampering are other common crimes which cut across countries. Poor lighting in the car park area is a major cause of muggings and thefts.

R Khanna, (name changed) from a leading industrial house, offers some solutions. He says, “A more efficient baggage handling machinery is required. A proper check, especially with respect to recruitment and appointment of loaders and ground handling staff, is essential to ensure the safety of passengers. The cumbersome process of lodging a complaint also need to be simplified. Providing additional staff to facilitate faster service at check-in, customs and immigration counters, would ease the queues which indirectly foster crime. Passengers also need to be alert.”

Sudhir Kumar, airport director, Airports Authority of India, Mumbai says the crime rate has reduced but passengers
need to be proactive.

“To improve airport efficiency, a number of changes have been introduced at Mumbai airport such as installation of CCTVs at strategic points, surprise inspections and rounds, mock drills, disguised officers on patrol, introducing the system of registering the name of each loader and ground handling staff. But we would be grateful if passengers bring to our notice any misdeeds involving officials. Passengers must not leave bags unattended, seek help from unauthorised persons or encourage the giving of unreasonable amounts in the form of tips.”
A CISF official said, “Presence of mind and alertness are a must for the traveller of today. Passengers should not take people at face value. Be guarded and aware at all times. It is better to be safe than be sorry. All expensive goods should always be carried in the accompanied baggage rather than in the check in baggage.”
Business travellers say Mumbai airport has become safer. “The urchins’ problem outside the arrival section has decreased to an extent. But there are still a number of hurdles. Installing new machines and introduction of state-of-the-art gadgets would bring in greater efficiency,” said Khanna.

Mohan Mane, senior inspector of police, Sahar Airport Police Station, Mumbai, said , “Incidences of crime at the airport has definitely reduced in the last few months”