Fall in luggage theft instances at Indira Gandhi International Airport: Police
Due to their more aggressive methods, the Delhi Police said on Friday that there has been a 48% decrease in luggage theft incidents at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. According to the police, 42 persons were arrested in 2023 compared to 32 in 2022, a significant rise in the number of arrests. In 2023, there were no reported occurrences of luggage theft in April, August, or November.
According to the police, 150 items that were reported lost, stolen, or missing were returned to their respective owners in 2023. According to an official, Delhi Police detained seven loaders in October after they were caught taking goods from passenger luggage at IGI airport. They also seized a significant amount of gold jewelry, high-end watches, Apple AirPods, and foreign cash from the offenders.
The service provider, AISATS, a joint venture between Air India and SATS, employed the loaders. The inquiry also showed that several handling company and airline executives had participated in the crimes. At the time, the police said that their investigation into the theft cases and questioning of the arrested loaders also showed that the private company’s airlines were not adhering to Delhi Police’s advisories and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security’s guidelines regarding passenger luggage handling and search procedures.
According to Devesh Kumar Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police at IGI, the theft instances pose a security risk for IGI Airport. He said, “We have addressed this issue head-on, carrying out in-depth investigations and putting preventive measures in place to deter thefts.”
According to the DCP, surprise checks are carried out concurrently by three police teams, each under the direction of an Inspector and overseen by an ACP, throughout the luggage loading and unloading process in order to monitor and enforce the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) regulations.
“The management of the involved airlines are notified in writing if any inconsistencies or deficiencies are found during the inspection process. Additionally, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is promptly notified and kept up to date. Through the use of a network of carefully positioned CCTV cameras, surveillance has been improved in the airplane hold area and along the path of luggage TUGs (trolleys or carts carrying passengers’ belongings), the speaker stated.
Surprise checking is done by three teams.
In order to monitor and enforce the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) guidelines, three police teams, each under the supervision of an Inspector and overseen by an ACP overall, conduct simultaneous surprise checks during the baggage loading and unloading process, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGI, Devesh Kumar Mahla. “The management of the involved airlines are notified in writing if any anomalies are found during the inspection process. Additionally, BCAS is constantly informed,” he said.
