CISF introduces stickers with name and phone number to trace laptops to their correct owners after security check at Mumbai domestic and international airport

The Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) in charge of security at the domestic and international airport in the city has hit upon a unique method to prevent the loss of laptops. Starting last week, they have begun sticking labels bearing the name and contact number of the laptop's owner on laptop bags.

Almost five to six cases of theft or loss of laptops are reported at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport daily. The security agency hopes that a label on the laptop bag will put an end to this.


The Central Industrial Security Forces, in charge of security at the airport,
will stick a label bearing the name and contact number of the laptop's owner.
Pic/Atul Kamble

CISF Assistant Commissioner SN Kundu told Sunday MiD DAY, "A sticker with the name and phone number of the laptop owner will secure the bag easily. Sometimes, belongings like laptops and mobile phone handsets are checked, but the passenger's scan is delayed. There are chances of gadgets being exchanged mistakenly during security checks, especially since laptop bags look identical. Now, guards can hand over the bags after cross checking the name and contact number of the claimants. Soon, we will introduce closed boxes with lock and key for laptops during security check."

Kundu added that the stickers would not cause additional delay for the passengers. Airport official who handle cases of lost items said the stickers won't come off easily, but they won't make your laptop ugly, either.

However, some passengers are unhappy with the move. Vikas Sawhney, a passenger flying to New Delhi on Saturday said, "This is a bad idea. If the airport authorities want a truly world class airport, instances of misplaced or mistakenly exchanged bags are not acceptable."

Binish Somnathan, a resident of Mumbai, who was at the airport on Saturday, said, "Safety is important, so I would allow the security staff to put a sticker on my laptop."