Fort Lauderdale Airport Worker Faces Felony Charges After Stealing Passenger Luggage

A Fort Lauderdale Airport retail employee has been arrested and charged with felony grand theft after stealing a passenger's luggage. The incident came to light when the passenger used an Apple Watch to track down her missing belongings.

FLL Airport Worker Caught Stealing from Luggage

The theft was first reported by Local 10. Paola Garcia, a Spirit Airlines passenger, waited for two hours for her suitcase at Fort Lauderdale Airport's (FLL) Terminal 4. When her bag did not arrive, Spirit Airlines employees assured her it would be sent to her house. The next day, Garcia received a ping from her Apple Watch, showing the location of her suitcase at a house in Fort Lauderdale, 15 minutes from the airport.

Needing her MacBook for a university test, Garcia went to the house at 1017 NW 11th Ct. Upon arrival, she saw suitcases scattered around and called the police. The property address was linked to Junior Bazile, a 29-year-old airport retail worker employed by Paradies Lagardère. It is unclear how Bazile accessed Garcia's suitcase.

Theft Caught on Camera

When police arrived, Bazile no longer had Garcia's possessions. However, he was on duty the day the luggage went missing. Camera footage showed Bazile rifling through the suitcase at the back of the retail store where he worked. He was seen removing items including a MacBook, two Apple Watches, and designer clothing, and placing the suitcase in a clear plastic bag.

Bazile was arrested and charged with grand theft, a felony in Florida if the stolen items exceed $750 in value.

Spirit Airlines Responds

Spirit Airlines issued a statement, providing Garcia with a reimbursement check. The airline clarified that the charged individual was not their employee. The statement read,

"We are not currently aware of any evidence that any Spirit employee was involved. We take any allegation of this nature seriously, and we are investigating."

The involvement of an airport retail worker raises concerns about potential accomplices. Garcia expressed her suspicion, stating,

"Personally, I don’t think it’s one person working in the airport, I think it’s a group. One person can’t just do that, take bags."

The incident highlights ongoing security challenges at airports and the need for stringent measures to prevent theft and ensure passenger belongings are secure.