Latest TSA Agent Accused Of Ipad Theft Raises Fear During Holiday Travel Season

Another TSA agent has been accused of iPad theft as the busy holiday travel season ramps up.

Sean Henry, a Transportation Security Administration agent working as a screener at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, was accused of stealing iPads and other electronics, reports The Associated Press. TSA, along with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, set up a sting operation with decoy bags containing iPads and other electronic devices.

Henry reportedly had two iPads and other electronics that were placed in the decoy bags in his backpack as he left work. Port Authority spokesman Steven Coleman said police also found other stolen items in Henry's home, reports AP. Henry will be charged with grand larceny and official misconduct.

Henry is just the latest TSA agent to be nabbed for theft, and with Christmas approaching, these thefts raise concerns about security as travelers are running around with hectic schedules.

Since the beginning of 2011, the TSA has fired 381 agents due to theft, but only 11 of those were this year, reports ABC News. The TSA notes that the number of agents fired is a rather small percentage of the entire TSA workforce and ABC News' investigation, where it left 10 iPads with TSA agents and only one was stolen, should allay some fears about traveling for the holidays.

Coleman also reports that TSA will conduct even more sting operations throughout the holiday season. Coleman said, “These sting operations have been growing out there to try to curb this level of luggage theft, especially as the Christmas holidays are approaching.”

TSA and police are also using the iPad's own GPS capabilities to help track down the thefts. Despite the number of thefts by TSA agents there have been plenty of arrests, giving hope to travelers as they travel during the holidays.