The employee, who worked for a company that operates stores at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, was arrested and charged with theft.
A Spirit Airlines passenger whose luggage went missing eventually found it at an airport employee’s home.
Paola Garcia told Florida’s Local 10 that she was supposed to check her pink hard-shell suitcase before her flight on March 3, but it never arrived at Carousel 4 in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s Terminal 4.
“In my mind I think I need my computer because I’m going to college, I need my computer no matter what,” Garcia told the outlet. “I waited there for at least two hours.”
While Garcia claims the airline told her her belongings were being sent to her home, the next morning she discovered her Apple Watch was sending a signal from a home in Fort Lauderdale.
Needing her computer for a test that day, Garcia decided to visit the address, where she said she saw suitcases “everywhere” on the property. She took a video of the luggage and called 911.
“The first thing the police said to me was: ‘What are you doing here? It’s so dangerous for you to be here,” Garcia told Local 10.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office traced the address to Junior Bazile, who worked for a company that operates stores at the airport, and confirmed he was at work the day of the theft.
Police have obtained footage of Bazile, 29, allegedly rummaging through Garcia’s suitcase in the back of the airport store where he worked.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that Bazile was arrested on March 8 and charged with theft.
According to the arrest warrant, which was obtained by PEOPLE, the stolen items included an Apple MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, jewelry, luxury women’s clothing, toiletries and a suitcase.
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Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3wU87n2lfeuNMnDzf91VDg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc1OA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/9bd88a6b57f6 0850afd5749bf9db76bb ” class=”caas-img”/>
Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport
A Spirit Airlines representative told PEOPLE in a statement: “Regarding this specific case, while we are not aware of any evidence that a Spirit employee was involved, on May 20, 2024, as a courtesy, we sent a refund check to the guest provided. ”
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A spokesperson for Paradies Shops, the company Bazile worked for at the airport, told Local 10 in a statement: “Paradies Lagardère is taking this matter very seriously. This employee was fired immediately after learning of the incident. Because this is an ongoing police matter, we have cooperated with the investigation and recommend contacting the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for more information.”
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This isn’t the first recent case of an airline passenger taking matters into their own hands after having their personal belongings stolen.
NBC4 Washington reported in January that a woman whose laptop was stolen at Dulles International Airport tracked the thief herself using his IP address after he tried to blackmail her via Instagram.
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