Police probe baggage thefts at Los Angeles airport, 25 targeted.
 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A $15,000 camera, Gucci bags, name-brand
clothing, electronics and jewelry are among the thousands of
dollars in valuables stolen by baggage handlers at Los Angeles
International Airport, police said Thursday.

Police served more than two dozen search warrants and made six
arrests Wednesday night after a months-long investigation in
what was the largest baggage-theft operation in the airport's
history, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Raymond Maltez said.

The joint operation with LAPD and airport police came in
response to a string of theft reports from planes, terminals and
runways. Police noticed lost and theft reports occurring at the
airport more frequently when certain crews handled luggage.

Officers seized the stolen goods from 25 locations in the
region, including the airport, authorities said. Officials will
attempt to return the seized items to owners.

Those arrested were primarily employees or ex-employees of
companies contracted to handle luggage and did not work directly
for the airport, airport police Assistant Chief Michael Hyams
said.

Maltez said the suspects worked for three contracting companies,
including Menzies Aviation.

The alleged crimes "were limited to a handful of employees,
acting independently," the company, which has an office at the
airport, said in a statement. "Menzies supports this enforcement
action and pledges its complete cooperation with the police
investigation," the statement said.

Four suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of receiving
stolen property and two for outstanding warrants. A total of 14
people were detained for questioning. More arrests were expected.

"It's still not over. There's a good possibility there will be
more search warrants and more arrests to follow," Maltez said.

Police said that while some thieves worked together, most acted
on their own seizing opportunities to pocket items from luggage
in transit.

Maltez said there was a general culture of acceptance of theft
among the baggage handlers.

"They all knew about each other, although they weren't working
in concert," Maltez said. "We're looking at people who are
opportunists, who have taken opportunities to steal."

The thieves were also selling items on multiple sites, including
Craigslist.

Detectives were still working to determine how much had been
recovered, but many expensive items, including a $15,000 camera,
were seized during the raids. The camera belonged to a
photographer who was on his way to Africa and reported it stolen
in San Francisco. "But truly, it was stolen in LAX," Maltez said.

The thieves targeted bags that were traveling longer distances
or had multiple transfers. Long-haul passengers, especially,
often don't see their bags for many hours and through multiple
airports if they're transferring.

"What happens is if they steal it here at LAX, by the time you
get home you don't know where these things were stolen," Maltez
said. "They know who to target."

The suspects had undergone employment and criminal-background
checks before they were authorized to work at the airport. But
those checks are limited, and all the employees had minimal or
non-existent arrest records, Maltez said.

Most of the police activity was at the Tom Bradley International
Terminal and at Terminal 4, which handles American Airlines,
American Eagle and some Qantas flights.

Every year about 55 million pieces of luggage are checked at
LAX, which served nearly 67 million passengers last year.

Maltez said that while the airport is relatively safe, and theft
isn't rampant, "my advice to travelers is to be careful what you
pack in your bags."

http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...f-25-could-be-
detained-in-airport-bag-thefts-5352807.php