Theft or Missing

[JustAPal00]

OP, the problem you have is you don't know what happened to the bag. You obviously set it down and when you went to look for it, it wasn't there. As I stated before, even though it may very well have been stolen, you can't be sure. There are no witnesses to the crime. There is no proof that a crime was committed. All you have is a missing bag and a suspicion. Because of that you will have to settle for the amount the insurance company pays for lost bags.

 

[MA_tenant]

OP, the problem you have is you don't know what happened to the bag. You obviously set it down and when you went to look for it, it wasn't there.

Ever heard of thieves cutting straps and taking purse. This happens everyday in third world country and often people realise it soemtime later.

As I stated before, even though it may very well have been stolen, you can't be sure. There are no witnesses to the crime. There is no proof that a crime was committed.

There is no proof in case of pick-pocket as well. If it was me who lost in in a high security airport, why did the airport security guys not find it ?

All you have is a missing bag and a suspicion. Because of that you will have to settle for the amount the insurance company pays for lost bags.

Let's see. I am with insurance now

 

[MA_tenant]

so, now the story is that your purse, which would be carried with you at all times typically and was being carried by you at the time, was somehow stolen from you by a person that was apparently following you and it wasn't on camera because the camera went blank but then you say the area it was somehow stolen (apparently while you were carrying it) there is no camera coverage.

Sure, that sounds believable. NOT!!!!.

Sure a purse is carried all the time just like your carry on bag or your laptop.
And the camera rightly show that I am carrying it ... so I am not making stories. All along I was in airport terminal and so there is no way I can hide it somewhere and make a story.

so it was in your hands and then an instant later, whoosh, it was gone yet you speak of "discovering" the theft.

Sure seems like the theft and the discovery of the theft would be quite closely related, like the exact same time.

Ever heard what is pickpocket and how it happens ?

Ya notice something missing? Like you ever setting the purse down so somebody could take it? I surely do.

So somebody taking it without my knowledge is not stealing !!

 

[justalayman]

so, somebody took this purse off your arm and you did not notice it for some time.

I cannot see how the police would have mixed up:

somebody took my purse off my arm (which is obviously theft)

and

my purse is missing (which infers you set it down and cannot find it which could be either theft or it simply was lost)


did you hear any explosions that day? Maybe they though it might contain a bomb so the bomb squad came and blew up your purse after you left it unattended somewhere.

You either have a very poor ability to convey information to others or you actually do not know what happened to the purse.

In either case, I suspect you will have to accept the insurance company's decision as it is.

 

[MA_tenant]

so, somebody took this purse off your arm and you did not notice it for some time.

I cannot see how the police would have mixed up:

somebody took my purse off my arm (which is obviously theft)


my purse is missing (which infers you set it down and cannot find it which could be either theft or it simply was lost)

Here is what wikipedia says about pickpocket --- Picking pockets without a person's knowledge and approval is a crime, a form of larceny which involves the stealing of money and valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time


and just one of the many examples when the victim realised of theft later --

Crime Watch - Newton, Massachusetts - Newton TAB
"On April 26, an IBM Thinkpad laptop was stolen from a Newton man’s vehicle, but the owner was unsure whether it was stolen when he made a trip into Brookline or when the car was parked in his driveway on Braeland Street, according to reports"

did you hear any explosions that day? Maybe they though it might contain a bomb so the bomb squad came and blew up your purse after you left it unattended somewhere.

You either have a very poor ability to convey information to others or you actually do not know what happened to the purse.

Nobody knows what happened in many cases of theft.

However, applying reasonable logic, it was taken by someone without my permission which by definition is theft. In a hight security area like airport, had it been just a case of "missing bag" it would have ended up in lost property office or security removed baggage.

In either case, I suspect you will have to accept the insurance company's decision as it is.

We will see. I have earlier gone against the wisdom of this forum and recovered my rightful dues. Anyway, this discussion has made me do some research which will help me fight insurance if required.

 

[MA_tenant]

Here we go again. THIS is what I do for a living. A living. Not for a hobby. A living. I didn't get where I am by being stupid.

I've taken 4 languages in my lifetime and have traveled to many countries. Don't make assumptions.

I still can claim to know one language more then you ... having grown up in different regions.

The way your write your words and use different meaning words interchangeably, as if they have the same meanings in English, when they do not, led me to believe that it wasn't your first language, and that I would give you allowances for that.

You are forgetting the context. In context of Air travel , a carry on bag, a purse , a laptop bag all are equally safe or unsafe. You just have two concept -- carry on bag and checked bag.

 

[Zigner]

Interestingly, on the flights that I'VE been on, a purse is considered SEPARATE from a carry-on for the purposes of what is allowed to come on to the plane with you...

I'm not a high-and-mighty world traveler I suppose, but I've never lost an item at the airport If it's valuable, I pay EXTRA SPECIAL attention.

 

[MA_tenant]

Interestingly, on the flights that I'VE been on, a purse is considered SEPARATE from a carry-on for the purposes of what is allowed to come on to the plane with you...

I'm not a high-and-mighty world traveler I suppose, but I've never lost an item at the airport If it's valuable, I pay EXTRA SPECIAL attention.

A purse need to have a carry on tag the same way like a carry on bag. Passenger is allowed to take both carry on bag and purse with him/her in the plane.
I agree, I missed the attention for a while. But that is how things are stolen. If you google Airport and theft you will see it is not uncommon to steal purse, laptop, cell phone etc in airport ... particularly in third world countries

 

[Zigner]

A purse need to have a carry on tag the same way like a carry on bag. Passenger is allowed to take both carry on bag and purse with him/her in the plane.

Mine've never been tagged...but I must be ignorant of the fancy new rules and regulations...

 

[justalayman]

so, what does a pickpocket have to do with anything? You claim the entire purse is missing, not that somebody "picked your pocket" or stole something from your purse. You are trying to get people to believe they took the entire purse and, for some unknown reason, it took you more than 10 seconds to realize the guy that just bumped into you or pushed you or whatever took your purse. That defies all common sense.

So, if your purse was stolen in such a manner, when you make the report you say: I had it on my arm. This guy bumped into me and apparently took my purse. It was one of those airport purse thieves you read about where you don't even feel them take it. Damn, I have never had anybody steal a purse like that before.

Yet, you somehow did not realize it was missing for some unknown period of time and are trying to claim it was stolen from your arm. Your story is making less and less sense the more you tell.

 

[JustAPal00]

A purse need to have a carry on tag the same way like a carry on bag. Passenger is allowed to take both carry on bag and purse with him/her in the plane.
I agree, I missed the attention for a while. But that is how things are stolen. If you google Airport and theft you will see it is not uncommon to steal purse, laptop, cell phone etc in airport ... particularly in third world countries

Well there you go! You "missed the attention for a while" And you don't know what happened to it. You can only ASSUME it was stolen!!!Sorry, but here in the first world assumptions are not good enough! Next time use your head while traveling in the third world, keep your money on you!!!

FYI, a company called Scottevest makes all kinds of travel clothing with hidden pockets, perfect for hiding money! They have a web site, just ad .com after the name. When I travel to the "third world", I always think about where I am going to hide my money on me.

 

[JustAPal00]

In my mind, most of europe is "third world"!

 

[MA_tenant]

so, what does a pickpocket have to do with anything? You claim the entire purse is missing, not that somebody "picked your pocket" or stole something from your purse. You are trying to get people to believe they took the entire purse and, for some unknown reason, it took you more than 10 seconds to realize the guy that just bumped into you or pushed you or whatever took your purse. That defies all common sense.

So, if your purse was stolen in such a manner, when you make the report you say: I had it on my arm. This guy bumped into me and apparently took my purse. It was one of those airport purse thieves you read about where you don't even feel them take it. Damn, I have never had anybody steal a purse like that before.

Yet, you somehow did not realize it was missing for some unknown period of time and are trying to claim it was stolen from your arm. Your story is making less and less sense the more you tell.

You have to learn a lot about crime in third world. check this --- Avoiding Travel Scams, Luggage Theft and Pickpockets - Detective Kevin Coffey

And particularly this --
"Now you go to put your rucksack on your back, but in order to do so, you must set down your day pack. You set the day bag down beside the rucksack and hoist the rucksack up across one shoulder. When you turn back again, your day pack is gone! The airport is full of people but you see no one with your bag, no one running, and no one very near you"


It was stolen from my arm because I never moved it out of my arm.
And BTW, the pick-pocket have to do very much with this --- when a pick-pocket attacks a victim, the victim cannot realise that his wallet has been picked from his pocket .... similarly , if the strap of a purse is cut and stolen, it might very well take a while to realise ... particularly when you are in a crowded airport jostling with people and managing your other carry on luggage too.

 

[MA_tenant]

Well there you go! You "missed the attention for a while" And you don't know what happened to it. You can only ASSUME it was stolen!!! Sorry, but here in the first world assumptions are not good enough!

OK, if not stolen then what ? Dropped somewhere in airport, Airport security will find it in no time; I lied , CCTV will not show that I am entering with a purse. What is your argument exactly ?
Logical assumptions holds true everywhere.

Next time use your head while traveling in the third world, keep your money on you!!!

Thanks for your advice But do remember even with best protection, things do happen. Banks get robbed, flights get hijacked with best securities in place.

 

[justalayman]

similarly , if the strap of a purse is cut and stolen, it might very well take a while to realise ... particularly when you are in a crowded airport jostling with people and managing your other carry on luggage too.

fine, if you want to use such an excuse, I put all of the blame on you for failing to do your due diligence and paying closer attention to a bag that held cash. It was your action and lack of taking the situation into consideration that cause the problem you now have.


So, when travelling in these countries that are so bad:

Open your fricken eyes. Know where your property is at all times

Let your motto be "semper vigilans"