Posted: 5/1/2004 5:35:47 PM EDT
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Former Baggage Handler Arrested For Thefts More Than $200,000 In Items Taken From Luggage Apr 30, 2004 5:29 pm US/Pacific LONG BEACH (CBS) A former baggage handler has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 worth of items from luggage at Long Beach Municipal Airport, police announced Friday. Edgar Mejia, 31, of Paramount was taken into custody on April 14 after authorities conducted a sting operation, said Long Beach police Sgt. Paul LeBaron. Mejia worked for ATS, a subcontractor for American Airlines. Between last August and February of this year, police received an increased number of reports of thefts from the luggage of passengers on American Airlines flights through the airport, LeBaron said. Police, working with the airline, set up a sting using decoy luggage and arrested Mejia after he allegedly opened the luggage. Officers then searched his home and recovered more than $200,000 worth of stolen items, LeBaron said. Among the recovered items were Rolex watches, fine jewelry, cameras, computer equipment and a jersey owned by Indiana Pacers basketball player Ron Artest, LeBaron said. The stolen items will be displayed for viewing by possible victims on Monday and Tuesday, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Arrangements to reclaim the items should be made via a designated hotline number, (562) 570-7001. |
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this one time when I took a plane overseas, someone stole my balls from my check-in luggage. Seriously, I had a set of those chinese meditating balls that you twirl on your palm that I got as a gift. When I started unpacking, I found their box but there were no balls... 
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I havent flown in at least 5 years. So I'm not up on all the current policies. But I have heard the TSA wont let you carry a small pocket knife, personal flashlight, leatherman, or many other comon items onto the plane anymore. So I'm sure lots of stuff that would usually be wormn onto the plane, ends up it checked baggage now. I believe you are not allowed to lock your checked bagage now too. |
You cant use a traditional lock. You can use a TSA lock.  As if a thief cant steal a key to those. But hey, its better than nothing. BTW, 10 bucks or so at the luggage joint. [sheep]Feels good |
| As far as locks go, you are wronge, I put a heavy duty combo lock on my dufflebag last year. What you do is goto check-in , tell them you want to lock your bag and to have them physically search it first, they will take you and your bag to the search area, Xray it and then rummage thru it, once they are done, they will allow you to use your lock on it and then they put a BLUE TSA ziptie thru it all, they all wrapped my duffle with some TSA tape. I did this i Tampa and in Ga and didnt have any problems. |