32,000 Feet Heist: Thefts on Planes

I'll be honest, the thought of being robbed at 32,000 feet never occurred to me - until I watched CSI last week. Who says television doesn't teach you anything?

Airport theft isn't a problem that should have all of us driving to our next destination, but it happens. And not just at cruising altitude. Absolute Software, a company that provides recovery and tracking of lost electronic devices keeps track of airport thefts. It breaks down like this**:

- 25% Luggage Claim/Storage
- 24% Plane
- 18% Check-in/Security Area
- 18% Other
- 15% Terminal/Boarding Area

Luggage claim seems like an obvious one. With some people not arriving until bags have already started to circulate, I imagine it isn't that difficult to walk away with someone's entire suitcase. Thieves also target people at security. If you have several bins going through, and someone ahead of you holds up the line, your stuff could just be sitting at the other end of the conveyor belt while you haven't even gone through the metal detector.

A would-be thief watches for people who look flustered and confused at security as well. They're more likely to forget something, or not pay attention to their items. A tip for security: put your most valuable items through last to ensure you're standing there waiting for them when they come through x-ray.

What about in-flight? Thieves often buy a seat in the aisle near the back of the plane and use pre-boarding to get on first. Then they watch everyone come on the plane - who has a fancy bag, who stores a laptop case, or a computer bag? They memorize where these items are placed. They might even get up after and put a bag they are carrying next to the bag they want to hit. Then they wait awhile, until everyone is reading/watching tv/sleeping, get up to check their bag, and snag something out of the bag next to it. Who's going to notice? Especially since more often than not, your bag isn't even above your head.

When I think about how easy it would be for someone to steal something out of a bag in a storage bin, it makes me not want to put my things in a storage bin. But sometimes you have to. So to keep your things more secure:
1. Keep valuable items in a smaller bag at your feet
2. Place your bags in the overhead storage bin with the zippers facing in and down, wheels out (yeah, I don't think that's the way they tell you to do it, but it's your stuff in there!)
3. Lock the zippers on your bags if you are storing something valuable (probably don't put the lock on until after security)

I know those are all really obvious things once you think about it, but who thinks about it?! I know I will from now on!

**Thefts are difficult to track as most victims don't even realize an item is missing until they unpack. Even if it is noticed, once passengers are off the plane they're next to impossible to track down.

The World's Ferris Wheel Fascination

The world has a fascination with large, upright wheels that spin us round and round. Ferris Wheels. The first ever being constructed by George Washington Ferris, Jr for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Singapore Flyer

You might only think of ferris wheels around fall in America, as they are synonymous with carnivals and fairs in the US. But they are everywhere!

The most famous outside of America might be the London Eye, which opened in 2000. At the time it was the world's tallest wheel, at 443 feet. Now it only  holds the records for tallest in Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

The current world record holder is the Singapore Flyer at 541 feet, completed in 2008. But it won't hold its record much longer. The High Roller in Las Vegas, Nevada is nearly complete and will stand at 550 feet. It should be opening in February of this year.

High Roller, Las Vegas

Oh, but Vegas, don't get too comfy with your title. Two new wheels are in a waiting race to be started and completed. New York has plans for the New York Wheel on Staten Island at 625 feet (not yet started). And the Dubai Eye, once complete, will snag the record at 689 feet.

Dubai Eye Plans

New York Wheel Plans

Turn of Fortune, China

In its own little word of distinction is the Big O in Tokyo, Japan. As of 2006 it was the world's tallest center-less ferris wheel (197 ft). China has  been attempting to overtake the Big O with their own Turn of Fortune since 2009, at 292 ft, but completion has been delayed. Japan keeps the title.

There are lots (and lots) of wheels around the world. And it seems like quite the race to see who can build the tallest. Check out a list of wheels, heights, and records here (scroll down the page a bit).

Sleepy Hollow, New York

 The dominant spirit that haunts this enchanted region is the apparition of a figure on horseback without a head. It is said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannonball in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War, and who is ever seen by the countryfolk, hurrying along in the gloom of the night as if on the wings of the wind. Historians of those parts allege that the body of the trooper having been buried in the yard of a church at no great distance, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head; and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes passes along the Hollow is owing to his being in a hurry to get back to the churchyard before daybreak. The specter is known, at all the country firesides, by the name of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

- Washington Irving "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

Decided to track down the Headless Horseman the other day...and found him! With the recent success of Fox's tv show, Sleepy Hollow, I'm sure I'm not the only one on the Horseman's trail. So while the show is actually filmed in North Carolina, the real town made famous by Washington Irving in his story, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is in New York, just outside of Tarrytown.

This town has embraced its fame! In fact, the town had originally been incorporated as North Tarrytown, but in 1996 changed the name officially to Sleepy Hollow. Upon entering the town I was greeted by an amazing sculpture of Icabod Crane on his horse, Gunpowder, chased by the Headless Horseman himself who is just about to throw his pumpkin head. The statue is at 420 North Broadway and his hard to miss.

Just up the road from the statue is the Old Dutch Church, which also appears in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is the graveyard of this church (not the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery located next to it) that the Headless Horseman haunted and where is nightly ride began.

 They had now reached that stretch of the road which descends to Sleepy Hollow, shaded by trees for about a quarter of a mile, where it crosses the famous church bridge just before the green knoll on which stands the church.

Although any bridge that may have stood has long since decayed, there is a sign posted where the Headless Horseman bridge would have spanned the river. Also, in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery you will find a wooden bridge named The Headless Horseman Bridge. It's in no way original, but also spans the river down from the church and is the only bridge around resembling what might have stood.

The Headless Horseman Bridge of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Washington Irving is buried in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, as well as several other famous individuals - Elizabeth Arden, Walter Chrysler, and Rockefellers. Irving's house, Sunnyside, can also be visited during spring and summer hours.

There's also a beautiful part of town with lots, and lots of shopping. I didn't stop there, but it looked beautiful and like it would make a great afternoon.


If you want to read the short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, check it out here.