Date:13/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081361570300.htm

New Delhi

Co-passengers turn thieves at IGI airport

Parul Sharma

CCTV helps to identify them lifting mobile phones or laptops

NEW DELHI: Though installation of increased number of closed circuit television cameras have “considerably reduced” incidents of thefts at its premises, an alarming trend is being observed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here of late.

In some recent cases of thefts, the IGI authorities have noticed the involvement of fellow passengers. “Under normal circumstances whenever a passenger finds anything amiss, the suspicion usually falls on the airport staff, whether it is the cleaners or the security officials. There have been some cases at both the international and domestic terminals where co-passengers have been found lifting things like mobile phones or laptops from others’ luggage,” revealed an airport source.

“When an aggrieved passenger informs the authorities about it, the CCTV footage is screened. In some cases, the culprits turn out to be a fellow traveller. They are then frisked thoroughly and the stolen stuff is returned to its owner,” the source added.

An IGI official recalled the case of a passenger who found his mobile phone missing at the domestic terminal. When they were informed, the security agencies checked the CCTV recordings and noticed a suspicious looking man who later boarded a flight to Goa.

“We alerted the Goa airport authorities. After he landed, he was asked if he was carrying any mobile phone. He replied in the negative. But when frisked, three mobiles were found on him. They were later restored to their owners,” he added.

Not forthcoming

Sources said in cases of theft, more often that not the aggrieved passengers do not wish to lodge any complaint with the police at the Delhi airport as they deem it an unnecessary task and also because they do not want to miss their flight.

“There is a provision that in case a passenger is getting late, he can reach his destination and file the complaint there that can be forwarded to the IGI Airport police station. It seems people are not aware of this. But if such cases increase, some mechanism will have to be devised to check it,” the source added.