Apple Watch Leads to Luggage Stolen By an Airport Store Worker (cnn.com) 44
A worker at a retail store in an airport has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars in electronics and clothing, reports the Washington Post. But what's more interesting is what led to his arrest...
A woman showed up at his home looking for the missing luggage that she'd tracked with her Apple Watch. CNN reports: Paola Garcia told CNN affiliate WPLG in Miami that she usually takes her suitcase onboard, but this time, she was told she had to check it. Garcia waited at least two hours for her pink roller bag, which contained an Apple MacBook, Apple iPad, Apple Watch, jewelry, high-end woman's clothing and toiletries. It never came out on the luggage belt. In her WPLG interview, Garcia said that Spirit Airlines told her that her luggage had been sent to her house. The luggage never came.
But Garcia explored another avenue with her own electronic tracker. Garcia, not named in the affidavit, later pinged the electronic items inside the bag to try and locate them, and the ping showed them at an address in Fort Lauderdale, the affidavit said... While at the house, she took video and still pictures, where she saw "several pieces of luggage in the front of the home," none of which were her own, the affidavit said. Garcia told WPLG that she dialed 911. "The first thing I remember the police told me is: 'What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here.' "
When a detective with the Broward County Sheriff's Office searched the address within the airport's employee databases, he found that Bazile reportedly lived at the address. Bazile was listed as working at a Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail store at the airport and was working on the day of the theft, according to the affidavit.
So apparently when the airline said the luggage had been sent to her house — they were wrong. In fact when police contacted a store manager, "he provided the detective with internal CCTV footage from the day of the incident," CNN reports, "which allegedly showed Bazile entering the store's storage room with a pink shell roller bag, matching the description of the stolen bag, and rummaging through the luggage, the affidavit said.
"He then appeared to take the MacBook and other smaller items out of the luggage and put them in other bags."
A woman showed up at his home looking for the missing luggage that she'd tracked with her Apple Watch. CNN reports: Paola Garcia told CNN affiliate WPLG in Miami that she usually takes her suitcase onboard, but this time, she was told she had to check it. Garcia waited at least two hours for her pink roller bag, which contained an Apple MacBook, Apple iPad, Apple Watch, jewelry, high-end woman's clothing and toiletries. It never came out on the luggage belt. In her WPLG interview, Garcia said that Spirit Airlines told her that her luggage had been sent to her house. The luggage never came.
But Garcia explored another avenue with her own electronic tracker. Garcia, not named in the affidavit, later pinged the electronic items inside the bag to try and locate them, and the ping showed them at an address in Fort Lauderdale, the affidavit said... While at the house, she took video and still pictures, where she saw "several pieces of luggage in the front of the home," none of which were her own, the affidavit said. Garcia told WPLG that she dialed 911. "The first thing I remember the police told me is: 'What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here.' "
When a detective with the Broward County Sheriff's Office searched the address within the airport's employee databases, he found that Bazile reportedly lived at the address. Bazile was listed as working at a Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail store at the airport and was working on the day of the theft, according to the affidavit.
So apparently when the airline said the luggage had been sent to her house — they were wrong. In fact when police contacted a store manager, "he provided the detective with internal CCTV footage from the day of the incident," CNN reports, "which allegedly showed Bazile entering the store's storage room with a pink shell roller bag, matching the description of the stolen bag, and rummaging through the luggage, the affidavit said.
"He then appeared to take the MacBook and other smaller items out of the luggage and put them in other bags."
Re: Soooo ... (Score:1)
when an airline forces you to gate check then they (Score:5, Insightful)
when an airline forces you to gate check then they should be forced to cover the full replacement value of your bag
Re: (Score:1)
wait, seriously, did everyone not know that is already the law?
https://www.transportation.gov... [transportation.gov]
if you gate *check* a bag it becomes checked baggage, why it happened is besides the point
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
wait, seriously, did everyone not know that is already the law?
Except its not... not really anyway. The limits are so low it would not have covered even 10% of what replacement costs would be on a new suitcase, new Mac, new Apple watch, new iPad, new high end clothes, etc.
Re: when an airline forces you to gate check then (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: when an airline forces you to gate check then (Score:4, Informative)
Lithium batteries installed in equipment are allowed in checked baggage. There are some fake lithium-ion-powered "devices" (which just light up an LED) that some people use for carrying spares, in fact.
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The devil is in the details. I doubt the cabin crew is giving detailed instructions to passengers when they force a carry on to be checked baggage.
Devices containing lithium metal batteries or lithium ion batteries, including – but not limited to – smartphones, tablets, cameras and laptops, should be kept in carry-on baggage. If these devices are packed in checked baggage, they should be turned completely off, protected from accidental activation and packed so they are protected from damage. Requirements vary based on the type of device and size of battery.
Spare (uninstalled) lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries, portable rechargers, electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are prohibited in checked baggage. They must be carried with the passenger in carry-on baggage. Smoke and fire incidents involving lithium batteries can be mitigated by the cabin crew and passengers inside the aircraft cabin.
If carry-on baggage is checked at the gate or planeside, spare lithium batteries, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices must be removed from the baggage and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. Even in carry-on baggage, these items should be protected from damage, accidental activation and short circuits. Battery terminals should be protected by manufacturer’s packaging or covered with tape and placed in separate bags to prevent short circuits. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/l... [faa.gov]
Re: (Score:2)
when an airline forces you to gate check then they should be forced to cover the full replacement value of your bag
Don't like gate checking... Stop taking the piss with your cabin luggage. Check your non-valuable shit in like a normal person or pack less.
The problem with gate checking is entitled people who bring on a massive case that barely fits in the locker and consumes the overhead locker space meant for 3 passengers.
I've never had my bag gate checked... Amazing that a 30L backpack, even when stuffed with 2 bottles of duty free strapped to the outside never seems to attract any attention (although It's normal
Not very bright (Score:4, Interesting)
"The first thing I remember the police told me is: 'What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here.' "
It's probably not worth risking your life over an Apple Watch or a MacBook. She should have called 911 as soon as she saw the location on her "Find My" app. But hey, perhaps she was banking on Miami's reputation as a safe, low crime city...
Re:Not very bright (Score:5, Insightful)
I'd be more inclined to believe her trust in police being professional enough was low.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Not very bright (Score:5, Informative)
That does NOT warrant a 911 call, but certainly a call to the local PD or sheriff non-emergency number.
At least where I live (Texas) most police, fire, etc. no longer publish local non-emergency numbers. 911 is for all contacts.
Re: Not very bright (Score:2)
https://www.houstontx.gov/311/... [houstontx.gov]
https://dallascityhall.com/ser... [dallascityhall.com]
https://www.austintexas.gov/de... [austintexas.gov]
Re: (Score:2)
https://www.houstontx.gov/311/... [houstontx.gov]
https://dallascityhall.com/ser... [dallascityhall.com]
https://www.austintexas.gov/de... [austintexas.gov]
LOL. Not very bright? You obviously have no idea what 311 is for. 311 is for stuff like requesting a pothole patched, getting your garbage bin replaced, or reporting a backed up sewer line. Not for reporting crimes.
Re: Not very bright (Score:4, Informative)
That hasn't worked out for other people. It falls into the "We will get to it when we get to it." bucket. No. Go there, take legal pics, keep your distance. Call 911. Since you are there, it takes a higher priority.
Like don't be stupid thou. Looks shady, people with guns, away from civilization...? Keep driving.
Re:Not very bright (Score:4)
"The first thing I remember the police told me is: 'What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here.' "
It's probably not worth risking your life over an Apple Watch or a MacBook. She should have called 911 as soon as she saw the location on her "Find My" app. But hey, perhaps she was banking on Miami's reputation as a safe, low crime city...
And what if the location she got was of the official airport van driving around town delivering luggage? She'd be calling 911 on a completely innocent employee.
As it is she not only confirmed it was a thief, but she saw some really important pieces of circumstantial evidence that might have been necessary to give the police probable cause/motivation to do something.
I think it was a perfectly reasonable for her to drive up to the address and see what's up before calling the police, she's just a car parked on the street. She just needed to make sure she was 100% committed to only observing and nothing else.
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I wish we lived in a world where one could check such items and be sure they'd be there when you deplane, but I don't think we do.
Re:Not very bright (Score:4, Informative)
While I don't want to blame the victim of theft here, I wonder about this lady's judgement checking a bag with a full Apple (TM) loadout + jewelry? Her poor decision making might be a pattern here- including going to the address herself.
She didn't check the bag. It was her carryon, but Spirit forced a gate check.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
While I don't want to blame the victim of theft here, I wonder about this lady's judgement checking a bag with a full Apple (TM) loadout + jewelry? Her poor decision making might be a pattern here- including going to the address herself.
She didn't check the bag. It was her carryon, but Spirit forced a gate check.
And remember kiddies... that bag would have been too large to fit underneath the seat in front of them otherwise it wouldn't have been gate checked (as she could have slipped it underneath the seat in front). So it's entirely possible that she was, like a lot of Spirit customers, taking the mickey with the carry on size. So again, poor decision making on this womans part.
For the Europeans playing along at home, Spirit is the airline that makes Ryanair's passengers look classy (and to be fair to our Amer
Re:Another Sam Brinton? (Score:4, Insightful)
Or, in America, you get nominated for another Republican presidential run while being both a convicted felon and convicted rapist.
The world we live in... (Score:2)
If you can't trust airport employees anymore, who *can* you trust eh?
Seems they have a lot of problems down there (Score:5, Insightful)
I thought the story of luggage getting stolen in Florida sounded familiar, but it turns out this is a recurring problem:
https://yro.slashdot.org/story... [slashdot.org]
https://yro.slashdot.org/story... [slashdot.org]
Re: (Score:2)
I thought the story of luggage getting stolen in Florida sounded familiar, but it turns out this is a recurring problem:
It's a problem in a lot of places but some airports seem to almost attract sticky fingered baggage handlers.
Anyone who's travelled in SE Asia knows never to pack anything remotely valuable in your checked baggage as it has a tendency to grow legs.
Luggage vs carryon (Score:1)
My luggage has clothes, low value items like small gifts for family, and other assorted bullshit I would be annoyed to lose but not tragic.
My carryon is a backpack that fits the official carryon size dimensions which is where my electronics, medications and anything else important goes plus 2-3 days of clothing so I have something to wear when they lose my luggage,
Why put expensive stuff she'd miss such as her jewelry and electronics and pricey clothing in her luggage outside her control? I guess she'll kn
Re: Luggage vs carryon (Score:2)
Of course it's company policy never to, imply ownership in the event of a dildo... always use the indefinite article "a" dildo, never . . . "your" dildo.
Re: (Score:2)
My legal size carry on backpack? I'm wearing it and it fits easily under a seat. It wouldn't survive in a cargo hold any more than a woman's purse would. It isn't luggage for an overhead. It is not my +1 luggage. It is a carry on no different than a purse.
Re: (Score:3)
I once flew with my GF from Germany to Palma.
Her luggage got lost. Retrieved 2 days later.
Of course she still had her handbag. I always have a rucksack in the cabin. When we were in the hotel, she was a little bit crying, like: "I do not even have underwear now" (obviously no problem in Spain, even at night you can buy it somewhere. At that time in Germany: no way. No shop open at night). Anyway, I opened my rucksack, and pulled 2 of her underwear out and 2 shirts.
Since then, she always has a small sexy und
Re: (Score:2)
Lol, dude, you missed an opportunity when you gave her the extra set of panties that first time.
How did the store worker get it? (Score:2)
I always have all such stuff close to my body (Score:2)
Depending on hotel, if I can not put it into a safe: I carry the stuff around through the city.
When my company asks: what is on your rucksack?
A thin but pretty warm west - I hate to cold aircon in the metro.
About 3l of water. We are 4 people and one might break his ankle. One stays with him and gets a bottle, or two. One seeks help.
3 Laptops, my tablet and the second phone and the power connectors.
Why are you carrying around close to 10kg of weight?
It is actually only 8.5. For exercise.
How did she get the bag? (Score:2)