Someone at TSA at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport

[question everything]

got himself a nice Leatherman and a set of bike tools.

A friend of mine boarded a plane yesterday, checking his Leatherman and bike tools on his way to a bike ride. Both items were removed, even though, according to the TSA own web page such items are OK to check.

But, hey, why not get your hands on some nice tools and leave the poor cyclist without these items?

[ThomCat]

1. I hope he files a theft complaint.

I don't know if it does any good, but they might investigate, and it might get someone in trouble.

I'd suggest shipping stuff ahead, but with new postal rates that is now even less plausable than it was before.
:(

[question everything]

2. Yes, I just talked to the TSA rep at the airport

who admitted that such items should not have been removed.

TSA has a complaint form and I will suggest to him to file... once he is back from bike ride.

[kurth]

3. TSA is also writing down names of people who forgot to bag and show their toothpaste

I've seen them do it at DFW and ORD. What are they going to do with the information?

[jilln]

5. We have to show our toothpaste???

[kurth]

9. Yep -

1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.

2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

3. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

Please keep in mind that these rules were developed after extensive research and understanding of current threats. ...

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

[donco6]

12. If you take it in carry-on, yes. n/t

[uppityperson]

4. Removed from a checked bag? that is theft.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Was there TSA paperwork in the bag to indicate that they had taken it?

It could also have been straight baggage theft.

[question everything]

7. Yes, a note that items were removed

not specified what but these are the only items missing.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. File a claim if the actual items can not be recovered

Sounds like a training issue. Gov stupidity is legendary, TSA is neither immune nor the sole source of it.

[truebrit71]

8. From checked baggage? That is theft. Pure and simple.

File a complaint.

And what's this about toothpaste in checked luggage?

Has the world gone mad?

[ThomCat]

10. I've had a folding cane disappear from my luggage.

x(

I wondered why anyone would want to take it. It was cheap and beaten all to hell. My luggage even came back with a sticker on it saying that it had been inspected by DHS, so I knew they were the ones that took it.

I didn't file a complaint (despite advocating that above) because it wasn't worth it the time. A replacement folding cane is cheap. But I was pretty pissed off at the time.

All these new DHS rules are an invitation to theft. Your checked bags are now a five-finger shopping center for airport employees.
:grr: