Several Transportation Security Administration uniforms were left unsecured and susceptible to theft at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport last month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.
Sensitive security information and a cashbox were also left out in the open past security checkpoints, the Sun-Times reported. Experts told the paper that this is a “serious” situation due to the fact that the uniforms could be stolen to allow unauthorized persons to get through checkpoints.
A Department of Aviation report obtained by the Sun-Times also noted two TSA radios left out in the open, as well as unlocked break room doors at two security checkpoints.
TSA spokesman Elio Montenegro confirmed to the Sun-Times that the report was true. He said all of the items described were “within the sterile area,” referring to the area passengers enter after the checkpoints.
Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation, told the Sun-Times it was "ridiculous" to think it is safe to leave uniforms unsecured if they're past checkpoints.
"If they took the uniform out of the sterile area, they could use it on another day," Schiavo said.
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