A Spirit Airlines passenger managed to track her lost luggage to an airport employee’s Florida home. After losing her luggage, passenger Paola Garcia discovered her Apple Watch pinging in a home instead of at the airport.
Garcia said that she was waiting for her pink hardcase suitcase containing her Apple devices. This included her personal Macbook and two Apple Watches. Aside from these devices, the luggage also contained designer clothes and jewelry.
Garcia waited for two hours for her luggage, and then panic set in when she couldn’t find it. As a college student who had a test the following day, she was concerned since the luggage had her laptop.
The incident happened on March 3. Garcia said, “In my mind, I’m thinking I need my computer because I go to the university, I need my computer no matter what.” The belongings inside her luggage were worth $5,000 to $10,000.
Lost Luggage
Garcia said that she usually keeps her valuables inside her carry-on. But this time around, Spirit Airlines made her check her luggage, a common practice if the overhead bins are full. When the luggage was lost, Spirit assured her that she was going to get her lost luggage the following day.
However, one of the Apple Watches was pinging its location in Fort Lauderdale and not the airport.
Determined to retrieve her belongings, Garcia called the home but no one answered. She also took videos and pictures of pieces of luggage in front of the home but hers wasn’t there. She then called the police. Authorities then discovered Junior Bazile, who works for Paradise Shops at the airport, to be living at the house. He was working at the airport when Garcia lost her belongings.
When the police arrived at the scene, authorities asked her why she traveled to the house. Garcia said, “The first thing the police told me was like, ‘What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here.’”
Grand Theft
The court documents stated that Bazile was seen on the CCTV entering Paradise Shops storage room with a pink hard shell luggage that matched the description of Garcia’s lost luggage.
Bazile was seen taking out the Macbook placed it underneath the desk along with other items. However, it remains unclear how he got the luggage.
Later, he was charged with grand theft. This is considered a felony in Florida since the valuables are worth more than $750. He could be facing 5 to 10 years in prison and fines that could range from $5,000 to $10,000 if found guilty.
Spirit Airlines said that it wasn’t aware that an employee was involved in the alleged theft. The airline also said that Garcia received a reimbursement check last month.
