Expert Warns to Never Put Your Phone in a TSA Airport Security Bin

Airport security can be stressful, especially in the summer months when airports across the country get a little busier than usual. But next time you go through a TSA checkpoint at the airport, there is one thing you should make sure never to put directly into one of the bins.

Typically, when you go through the TSA security checkpoint at the airport, the agents will instruct everyone to place all of their belongings in a bin so that you belongings can go through the scanner and agents can ensure that everything brought onto a plane is safe.

While there are some items that the TSA typically requests be placed directly in a bin by themselves, like larger electronic devices such as laptops or tablets, there is one item that you should never place directly in a bin: your phone.

In a recent TikTok video, travel expert Tiffany, who posts to her TikTok account @travel.by.the.books, revealed that a TSA agent once advised her against placing her phone directly in a bin, warning, "This is the fastest way to get it stolen."

Instead of placing it directly into the bin, Tiffany advised travelers to place their phone or other valuables inside their bag when they go through the security screening, where it would be much more difficult for a thief to steal.

"Always make sure your valuables are zipped up into your bag when they go through the scanners," Tiffany suggested in the video.

While Tiffany specifically singled out a phone in her guidance, this same advice would apply to any valuable item that thieves might target – wallets, jewelry, headphones, sunglasses, cash, or anything else that might be an easy target.

Airport security might be designed to keep passengers safe, but it's ironically an easy place for travelers to be targeted by thieves if you aren't careful.