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Laptop stealing baggage handler gang caught at Bush Intercontinental
A particularly nasty gang of laptop thieves has been arrested at Houston's Bush Intercontinental airport. The gang consisted of five baggage handlers working for a third party firm hired by Continental Airlines to re-screen transiting passengers.
"Normal" laptop thieves usually get their loot by stealing from bags in the underground sorting area, but these guys once again prove that most criminals are just plain dumb.
They were caught when they asked a passenger to remove his two laptop computers and place them on a conveyor belt to be screened. They then told him he had to go to a different terminal to pick them up. Of course, the machines were not there, as the criminals kept them inside the screening equipment. Once the passenger made his way to pick up his property from the other terminal, the gang climbed inside the screening equipment, removed the computers, and hid them in an airport bathroom.
It never ceases to amaze me how low some people will sink, or how they thought they could possibly get away with this crime. All five crooks have been fired by their employer, and bond has been set at $50,000. They face up to ten years in prison if convicted. Houston police do not know how long the gang had been operating.
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
franco Jan 18th 2010 8:14PM
I say break their fing fingers one at a time for their first phase of punishment then 10 years ............. these thugs do this and the airlines never refund the contents of your lost baggage.what givesit never happened to me but if it does I'm going after someone if I have to beat the snot out of every damn baggage handler till I find the culprit then I think I will take a trip to the airlines ceo and take his shit see how he likes it
manuel Jan 21st 2010 11:10AM
These "third parties" can collaborate with terrorists. Why not?
Dennis Donelan Jan 18th 2010 8:59PM
waterboard them!
brandonmil3 Jan 18th 2010 10:10PM
You had me till you brought THE PRESIDENT into it, that ain't right dude!
brandon Jan 18th 2010 10:14PM
HANG 'EM!!!
lillian Jan 18th 2010 10:25PM
I can't believe that the travelers fell for that in the first place. But these guys definately give America a bad name.
Robert Jan 18th 2010 10:30PM
Yeah right, pick up the laptops somewhere else. Either they come out the other side or I'm yelling loud enough and carrying on to shut down the entire airport.
buddydhlubmann Jan 18th 2010 11:15PM
It breaks my heart to say it, but you are right...
connie hopkins Jan 18th 2010 11:21PM
Now if they can catch the ones at DFW that stole my husband's work laptop that would be great!
Julie Jan 18th 2010 11:27PM
I agree! I lost one there too recently.
D. Brooks Jan 26th 2010 2:37AM
Isn't it amazing? They almost strip search passengers while their employees, supposedly of good character, steal you blind from your luggage. Last summer, we brought salmon and other seafood home from Alaska. . Why law, when we opened the cooler that had been taped at the ticket counter, surprise, surprise!!!! Some of our salmon steaks were missing, but the cooler was all taped up. Poor people, I guess they were hungry.
Carl heck Jan 19th 2010 12:50AM
Ignorant Racist.....Typical Right Wing Moron
Charles Jan 19th 2010 1:15AM
You say "typical bro's" in your comment but I would question the intelligence of the people getting their laptop's stolen in this manner. Myself being educated and you obviously are not, I won't stoop to your level and make a comment as ignorant. I will say, you might want to look in the mirror and remind yourself that the only reason why they are able to get away with this crime is because of the stupidity of the victims. Well, maybe I will stoop to your level. You and the victims of this type of crime are "Typical Idiots". Heck, even a 10 year old would be smart enough to not just walk away from his property. It almost sounds like you're upset because you weren't intelligent enough to think of this yourself. Either that, or you were stupid enough to fall for it.
pbcp1@aol.com Jan 19th 2010 1:46AM
Hey knucklehead,you misspelled HONGRY
Susan Jan 19th 2010 2:11AM
I'm amazed that bond was only set at 50,000. Especially considering how much each of laptops were valued at. Drop in the bucket if they decide to simply run
JAB Jan 19th 2010 4:50AM
Wow a laptop lets talk about the millions Bernie stole would you say that was typical white people behavior. What they did was wrong and Im sure they will pay for thier crime but just not act like blacks have a monoply on theif when this very land was stolen from the Indians. So all you back wood red neck can go crawl back into your caves.