Baggage handlers charged with theft of firearms, valuables from luggage
Thursday, 16 Oct, 2015
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Three former baggage handlers face federal charges for stealing from passengers’ checked bags at Norfolk International Airport.
The three men are charged with various offenses including fraud, conspiracy and theft of firearms.
Court documents allege Gregory Paul Wingard and Chris Arthur Perry stole jewelry and electronics and also targeted bags carrying guns.
A third baggage handler, Donte Chandler, was charged with stealing an iPad.
All the offenses involved baggage travelling on US Airways flights.
Federal authorities said the men hatched a plan to evade detection.
Once they had stolen an item, they switched bag tags to ensure the luggage was misdirected to another arrival airport.
One of the guns stolen belonged to passenger Kevin Coolong of Chesapeake.
"I am very concerned that they know which pieces of luggage have weapons in them and which don’t. How were they able to zero in on my bag?" he told local media.
A total of eight thefts were investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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