A South Florida airport worker has been charged with grand theft after a passenger’s missing luggage, which she tracked using her Apple Watch, was found at his residence.
The incident began when Paola Garcia, a passenger flying from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, discovered her pink suitcase was missing. The luggage contained valuable electronics and high-end clothing worth over $5,000, including an Apple MacBook, an iPad, an Apple Watch, and jewelry. Garcia’s flight had been canceled, and she was instructed to retrieve her luggage from a carousel, but it never appeared.
Using an Apple feature to “ping” her electronic items, Garcia located the signal at a home in Fort Lauderdale. She visited the address the next day but couldn’t make contact with the residents. However, she noticed several pieces of luggage on the property, none of which were hers.
A detective linked the address to Junior Geneus Bazile, 29, who worked at an airport shop. Surveillance footage showed Bazile with a pink suitcase matching Garcia’s description. He was seen removing a MacBook and other items from the suitcase and placing them into separate bags.
Despite these findings, Garcia’s belongings were not recovered. Bazile was arrested and charged with grand theft. Paradies Lagardère, Bazile’s employer, terminated his employment immediately after learning of the incident, emphasizing their serious stance. While denying any involvement of their employees, Spirit Airlines issued a reimbursement check to Garcia as a courtesy.
This case highlights a broader issue of missing and stolen luggage. In a similar 2022 incident, an airline subcontractor in Florida was charged after investigators used an Apple AirTag to locate a missing suitcase containing $16,000 in stolen items.
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From January to March of this year, over 650,000 bags on direct domestic flights were mishandled, according to U.S. Department of Transportation figures. Although this represents a slight decrease from the same period last year, the problem persists.
Experts advise travelers to file a claim at the airline’s baggage desk if their luggage is lost. Compensation may be available, but it varies between airlines. Keeping receipts can help recoup costs for replacement items. Travel insurance is also recommended for protection against lost or stolen luggage. Labeling your items and taking photos can aid in recovery efforts, and using tracking devices like Apple AirTags can help locate lost items.
If you discover your belongings are missing, it’s crucial to inform the police rather than attempting to retrieve them yourself. Garcia recounted that police warned her about the danger of going to the address alone.
This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and preparedness when traveling with valuable items.