There is a certain symmetry to January. As of the first of the month, passengers were told not to lock their checked baggage, so that it could be opened if necessary during security screening. On the 31^st of the month, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted four baggage handlers at Miami International Airport (MIA), charging them with conspiring to steal items from personal luggage. The details of the DOJ statement speak volumes:

"The defendants admitted they would work in groups. [Their] system allowed them to conduct surveillance and process luggage in a manner so as to prevent any interruption of the thefts going on inside the cargo hold. The defendants would use a [metal] device known as a 'leatherman tool' to break open zippers of the passenger luggage inside the cargo hold and would steal items from the passenger luggage.

"During the ten-day period covered by the indictment, British Airways had damage or loss claims of over $10,000. The investigation included hidden cameras in the British Airways cargo hold that taped the defendants without their knowledge."

By the way, sources say that at many airports baggage handlers have access to airside without having to pass through security screening, hence the availability of the handy metal "leatherman tool."