There is no better luggage tamper detection system than Tell-Tag
Tell Tags are simple, easy and small so you can pack as many as you need.
The idea behind Tell-Tag originated from Origineering’s aviation consultancy work in various projects, including those specifically involving airport environments and security systems. It was here where it became apparent that there were no detection tools available that were able to successfully identify instances of luggage tampering with any degree of reliability. The original idea came about in late 2004, but the marketability of such a product was not really understood until March of 2005 amidst the publicity of the Schapelle Corby case in Bali.
From the outset, it was decided not to develop a product that had the potential to create problems for airport baggage handling systems. Furthermore, it is quite well known that airport personnel have difficulty handling items of luggage that have been wrapped in cling films and pallet-wraps. Also, “bin liner” type suitcase covers can get caught up in transport machinery and carousel belts and create the potential for damage and confusion in the baggage claim area of an airport. Mummifying bags in cling films can create similar problems for identification.
Other products available on the market at the time were seen to provide a little perceived peace-of-mind, and none of them was able to inform the user, with any degree of reliability, that someone had tampered with their luggage.
A pertinent example can be provided in the case where someone decides to use a passenger’s bag to transport drugs via the airline system. If a criminal does this in a way that is hard for a traveller to detect (and this would certainly be the objective), the victim risks incrimination, so the passenger would really need to know if someone had tampered with his/her luggage and he/she would need to know before exiting through Customs. If passengers declare their bags for Customs searches, explaining to the officials that their anti-tamper seal has indicated a security breach, this cooperative approach will demonstrate a passenger’s awareness of the issues in a pretty obvious manner. Consequently, if something incriminating is discovered in one of these bags, the person concerned will have already demonstrated an absence of criminal intent.
The solution therefore had to be a device that was able to detect luggage intrusion reliably.
The company tested just about every security device available on the market and with these devices fitted to a suitcase, we were still able to successfully break into a test bag and reseal it without an independent observer being able to tell the difference. Tell-Tag was born from this deficiency, as it prevents any undetected incursion into personal luggage.
Of course, like many other security devices, a Tell-Tag will also act as a deterrent and those who use it hope that once potential smugglers see a Tell-Tag they will move on. Indeed, Origineering's slogan for Tell-Tag is “Detect and Deter”.
