ALKHOBAR, 22 July 2003 — I always thought I was quite security conscious when traveling. Then, six weeks ago, I got a major wake-up call when my digital camera was stolen at Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport (KFIA).

I had been on assignment in Dubai and had a last minute photo shoot. Usually my computer and camera gear are packed together in a small carry-on trolley case. But short on time, I took my camera case out of the trolley bag, shut my luggage and put it in the hotel’s locked storage room. Returning from the photo shoot, I simply had the stored luggage transferred to the taxi and rushed to the airport. I made the plane but my camera gear was outside the trolley bag. I wasn’t very concerned since I was going home.

I arrived at KFIA late at night; sick with a terrible migraine. Mercifully the luggage popped up quickly on the carousel. I dumped all my bags on the porter’s luggage cart. He helped me clear Saudi Customs and quickly we were outside at the taxis. I placed the small trolley bag in the back seat of the taxi. When I turned around to get the camera bag, I saw that all my other luggage was gone. I assumed it had been loaded into the taxi’s trunk. I paid off the porter and collapsed in the back seat of the taxi.

An hour later the taxi driver dumped my luggage in front of my home and quickly drove away. It was then that I noticed my camera case was nowhere to be found. Too sick to function, I could not return to the airport to investigate the missing camera till the next day. Quite a surprise awaited me there.

The police stationed at the airport just sadly shook their heads when I told them about the theft. The sergeant informed me that while passengers at KFIA do report thefts, there is little the police can do except open files on the stolen goods if people are willing to take the time to officially report such losses. Even after investigation, few items are recovered. The police agreed that the taxi drivers and porters were probably behind the thefts but the officer claimed that it was the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authorities to control the situation.

Upon contacting the head of Civil Aviation at KFIA, I was informed that he was aware that the porters were stealing at the airport. He blamed the thefts on the fact that a porter’s salary is only a couple of hundred riyals monthly. In addition, KFIA’s Civil Aviation Authority had been unable to retain Saudi supervisors to monitor the porters. As for the taxis and limousines at KFIA, no one monitors these drivers or gives out receipts with the driver’s badge number and fare as is common at other major airports in Saudi Arabia.

The bottom line is passengers beware! Saudi Arabia has a reputation for being a very safe environment and people tend to become complacent here about security. I requested that the KFIA Civil Aviation Authority at least put up signs stating “Thefts in progress! Guard your belongings!” Unfortunately, my suggestion wasn’t greeted with enthusiasm.

Passengers coming to KFIA should be aware that baggage trolleys are available for one riyal. Keep the porters away from your belongings. If you must use a porter, know that the fee is five riyals. Most porters demand at least SR20 and some have been known to ask for SR50 or more. While the taxi drivers aren’t monitored, the police can find the driver if you can give them the license plate number and the driver number. The driver’s number is usually on a placard hung over the seat back. Just the driver watching you write down those numbers is a good deterrent.

The police told me that common items stolen at KFIA include mobile phones, cameras and laptops. Criminals can sell digital devices for about half their value and unregulated second-hand markets thrive in all cities in the Kingdom. A good laptop or camera can net a thief thousands of riyals. I shouldn’t be unfair in my presentation of this subject. Theft of portable digital items is on the rise worldwide. Insurance statistics show that if you own a laptop there is a one in 14 chance that your notebook will be stolen. Since my camera was stolen, I’ve done quite a lot of research on theft of digital equipment. Here are some tips to keep your gear safe.

• Make sure your digital gear is engraved or permanently marked with your name and telephone number so that it is easily identifiable. Ask the equipment vendor about the best place to write such information, so that you don’t violate the warranty. Register your equipment with its manufacturer.

• Keep an inventory of all equipment that you take out on the road. Write down make, model number and serial number. Take a photo of the equipment. A picture is worth a thousand words with the police. Store this information in a separate case from your gear.

• Data theft may be an even more expensive loss than hardware theft. Always back-up your data. Transfer your files or photos to CD, DVD or download them to a fixed storage device.

• Laptop cases and camera bags may prevent damage but they also alert thieves to the fact that you are carrying expensive equipment. Place your special carry cases inside a piece of luggage, a standard briefcase or a backpack. Group individual pieces together in one larger case.

• At airport X-ray machines place your laptop on the conveyor only when it’s your turn to go through the metal detector and keep your eyes on it while it passes through. Or request that the security officer manually search your laptop case.

• After airports, hotels and offices are the highest risk areas for laptops. One cost effective security strategy is to use a quality laptop cable lock, especially if you buy one that includes a loud alarm that goes off if the laptop is moved. It also pays to install tracking software.

• Never leave your laptop unattended and unlocked in a hotel room, even if the management says it is safe to do so. If the laptop is stolen from the room, the hotel is not legally responsible. Some hotels will allow you to lock your laptop in their safe or a secured luggage area.

My online research found that insurance companies rank countries such as Italy, Spain and Turkey as high risk for laptop thefts from vehicles and in snatch-and-grabs. The Middle East as a whole is also rated as having a high incidence of such theft. If your digital equipment is snatched, report it to security guards at your location and file a police report. Take copies of the reports for your records and for an insurance claim. Contact the manufacture of the stolen equipment to report the theft. Many vendors will make a computer entry so if someone were to call or send in the equipment for service, the police and the owner would be notified.

Consider taking out insurance on your gear. After my camera was stolen, I made an inventory of my high value digital equipment. I was surprised at the total. This week I bought insurance that covers my equipment both at home and when I travel in the event of loss or damage. There is a clause in the insurance that it won’t pay for the first SR1,000 of a claim in regards to the laptop. For all other equipment only the first SR250 of loss or damage is excluded. It is also wise to purchase digital equipment with a credit card. Many credit card companies insure products against theft and damage for the first 30 to 60 days after purchase. Check with your card issuer.

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