Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Italy

VIDEO: 29 baggage handlers arrested after being caught raiding luggage

The handlers were caught red-handed on secret recordings – in some cases violently breaking cases open.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViFFDf-25zo

(YouTube: breakingnews ofday)

POLICE IN ITALY last week arrested 29 baggage handlers from two Italian airports after catching them on video raiding passengers’ luggage.

The staff were caught stealing contents from the bags of travelling passengers through secret police filming, using cameras installed in the cargo holds of Alitalia aircraft.

In some cases the staff can be seen slamming suitcases off the walls of the plane trying to break them open, so that the contents inside can be revealed.

The staff worked at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport and at the airport at Lamezia Terme in the south of the country.

A spokesman for the latter airport’s police force said law enforcement agencies had started planting cameras in aircraft themselves, after being stumped by the routine reporting of stolen items from luggage.

They eventually theorised that the luggage compartment of a plane itself was the only place where a baggage handler would expect total secrecy while opening a passenger’s bags.

Read: 53% drop in rate of mishandled luggage in last six years

Your Voice
Readers Comments
52
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.