Fruitcake has always been a danger to your waistline, taste buds and your feet if accidentally dropped; now it is a security risk for airlines. The fruitcake is so dense that when it goes through the x-ray machines at airport security, they can’t tell what is in it. It could be hiding a knife or a gun and they wouldn’t be able to tell.
If you are traveling this holiday season be aware of prohibited items for carry on luggage. Swiss army knives, scissors, bottled liquids without a government seal, knitting needles, sticks of dynamite, etc. are all prohibited and will be confiscated. Also with the dynamite, you’ll be looking at jail time.
CBC news - Canada
Wed, 10 Dec 2003
Fruitcake now security threat
MONTREAL - If you're traveling by air this holiday season, forget the fruitcake. At least as carry-on luggage. That's the advice of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.
Latest threat to aircraft security?
The head of the authority said Tuesday about 500,000 prohibited items have been intercepted at Canada's 89 airports during the past six months. Jacques Duchesneau said the public still isn't aware of what is allowed on board. A lot of scissors and Swiss Army knives have been confiscated.
Duchesneau said if you try to bring a fruitcake onboard, expect it to be X-rayed because they are dense and could hide a weapon.
"When seen through an X-ray machine it might represent something we might need to check. It's very dense. We don't take any chances.''
As more and more people flock to the airports, malls and stores this holiday season, car theft is increasing. Be aware that during this season you are more likely to have your car stolen. Many stores step up security in the parking lots during the season. This article is about the rise in car theft in a central California Town, Fresno. Most cars are recovered, with the thieves taking stuff in the car and using the car for transportation.
If your car is full of tempting stuff, luggage, cool stereo, shopping bags full of Christmas shopping, cameras, laptop computers, etc., you are more likely to be a victim. They will take the shopping bags with the stuff and return it to the store for cash or sell it. The likely will take the stereo, wheels and rims and anything else that they can quickly strip from the car and then abandon it.
Get a car alarm and hide any valuables, preferably in the trunk. One good alarm that we recommend is the Raxus, it is inexpensive, highly visible, loud, install it yourself in seconds and take it with you if you travel for rental cars.
The Fresno Bee
Tuesday, December 9, 2003,
By Marc Benjamin
Lots of Auto Theft
Thieves go shopping, too, at Christmastime, and your parked car may be a
target.
While you shop this holiday season, someone else may be shopping, too -- for
your car.
In December, shopping centers are ground zero for auto theft.
It's the primary reason Valley police departments step up patrols in
shopping areas.
"Any major shopping center where people are going to be out is a target,"
Fresno police Sgt. Shannon Galvan said.
In November and December 2002, the average monthly number of auto thefts
jumped from 680 to nearly 1,000.