Former Transportation Security Administration agent Pythias Brown was recently sentenced to three years in prison for stealing approximately $800,000 in property from passengers passing through airport security. This was such common practice for Brown that it nearly became routine.
The TSA is an agency created to safeguard U.S. transportation systems. Their main function is to make flying a protected process for all. Having a TSA agent steal from passengers undermines their intended purpose and violates passengers in costly ways.
“They never searched us, they never searched our bags,” said Brown in an interview with ABC News. “It was so easy that I could walk out of the airport with bags of passenger belongings.”
From testimony in additional interviews with Brown and other TSA agents, one could speculate that the accessibility and lack of supervision made stealing from passengers normal behavior.
“It was like being on drugs,” said Brown to ABC. “I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ but the next day I was right back at it.”
TSA agent John Irwin also provided reasoning behind his decision to steal $520 in cash from a single passenger. Irwin claimed the passenger was rude to a co-worker and “had it coming to him.”
While there are TSA agents who do not steal, the justifications that the accused and convicted TSA agents are offering to the media suggest a disregard for protocol and passenger’s property. Assistant Professor of Justice & Policy Studies Sanjay Marwah identifies a rationale behind this pattern of excuses.
“I think they were trying to justify their own behavior and argue that many do it to make themselves feel better and rationalize why they did it,” said Marwah. “This is called technique of neutralization in criminology, which you can see in the ABC News interview with them.”
These responses from TSA agents leave many people feeling uneasy about past and future run-ins with airport security. Among those who feel uneasy are students from Guilford College who find themselves frequently flying throughout the course of a year.
Sophomore Omer Atishkin of Israel has crossed paths with the TSA on many occasions.
“I still have to fly regardless of what has taken place,” said Atishkin. “I would avoid flying with that company if it seems to be connected to the theft.”
Other students report losing confidence in airport security and TSA agents.
“TSA agents are supposed to keep you and your belongings safe,” said senior Mellissa Beeh. “So how could you trust them?”
Junior Lizz Carella considers a more preventive approach saying, “I would be more careful in the way I pack next time.”
Several media sources are offering advice that might prevent passengers from becoming victims.
In an interview with ABC, Brown revealed some tips for travelers. These include: 1) Do not put valuables in checked bags, 2) try not to set off x-ray alarms as this draws more attention to you and your belongings and 3) do not trust TSA-approved locks, due to the fact that they are easily manipulated by the agents. An acceptable alternative would be to provide your own locks with a code unique to you or a device that only a limited amount of people are able to unlock.
This is a truly unfortunate development for the general public, but with tighter precautionary measures, fewer people should become victims of internal airport theft.
