Woman fined for stealing 1,000 pieces airport luggage

[chrisb]

A 29-year-old woman, from the Perth suburb of Dianella, has been given a suspended jail term for stealing more than 1,000 pieces of airport luggage.

Woman fined for stealing 1,000 pieces airport luggage - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

She should be forced to spend 500 hours standing next to a luggage carousel waiting for luggage that may or may not show up...

I hate that sinking feeling as the volume of luggage drops and you begin to wonder if yours will come out...

edit; stupid subject cut-n-paste

 

[NYCguy]

So what do you have to steal to actually GO to jail?

 

[browski]

So what do you have to steal to actually GO to jail?

Maybe a sniffer dog?

 

[Evan]

So what do you have to steal to actually GO to jail?

Over in Australia... probably something pretty big ! Maybe the Opera house or something...

 

[Commuter]

She should be fined a lot more than $950 AND also made to pay back all the victims and their insurers. I think the punishment does not fit the crime.

 

[one9]

I agree that the punishment does not fit the crime.

I am generally a much more forgiving person that most of society (in my opinion anyway) but for this crime, considering the sheer number of pieces of luggage stolen, a more severe punishment should have been given.

 

[anat0l]

She should be fined a lot more than $950 AND also made to pay back all the victims and their insurers. I think the punishment does not fit the crime.

+1 here.

What the hell is this $950 only fine? Are the courts limited in the amount they can charge for stolen baggage???

 

[odysseus]

Can only presume there's more to the story because that's really a light punishment. The luggage was only part of the story, and only discovered when they were doing a search for other stolen items and drugs.

 

[2muchplastic]

It really does beg the question how the hell did she manage to smuggle luggage out of the airport?

I'm presuming that it is not normal for airport workers to be seen with a suitcase or two whilst at work, and airports are supposed to be secure areas, so how did she manage to waltz out with 1000 pieces of luggage???

 

[NM]

It really does beg the question how the hell did she manage to smuggle luggage out of the airport?

I'm presuming that it is not normal for airport workers to be seen with a suitcase or two whilst at work, and airports are supposed to be secure areas, so how did she manage to waltz out with 1000 pieces of luggage???

Where is the information that the woman involved was an "airport worker". I did not read that information in the brief media report linked in this thread.

Is it possible she was just a visitor to the airport who took the bags off the baggage carousel and walked out? Just guessing based on the limited information I have read about this situation.

 

[2muchplastic]

Where is the information that the woman involved was an "airport worker". I did not read that information in the brief media report linked in this thread.

Is it possible she was just a visitor to the airport who took the bags off the baggage carousel and walked out? Just guessing based on the limited information I have read about this situation.

I'd read elsewhere about a "security swipe card" and made the presumption that it was because she was an airport worker. Reading the ABC version it states that a stolen swipe card was recovered.

Must remember to not read anything or write anything first thing in the morning (and it's still only 7.25am here)

 

[Flashback]

Where is the information that the woman involved was an "airport worker". I did not read that information in the brief media report linked in this thread.

Is it possible she was just a visitor to the airport who took the bags off the baggage carousel and walked out? Just guessing based on the limited information I have read about this situation.

That was my first thoughts on how it was done. Note also a security swipe card could still be stolen landside, so this is still plausible.

Also, an 8 month suspended jail sentence and $950 fine? You have got to be kidding!

 

[NM]

That was my first thoughts on how it was done. Note also a security swipe card could still be stolen landside, so this is still plausible.

I don't believe there has been any mention that the other items found at this woman's home (security swipe cards and drugs) came from the airport. I have not seen it stated that the security cards were for airport access or that there had been any breach of security at the airport.

The caption under the photograph in the original linked article suggests the luggage was stolen from the baggage carousel.

 

[anat0l]

The caption under the photograph in the original linked article suggests the luggage was stolen from the baggage carousel.

That is another good reason to get to the baggage carousel near the exit point first. Unless you have a real stand-out, flash bag (or no checked bag at all), the last thing you want is for someone else to take your bag even if it looks quite similar.

I have had the unfortunate experience before of having to claim my bag from another person, and I could tell it was mine because I could recognise the ribbon which I had put on it, plus the existing scuffs etc. and the bulk of the bag gave it away. The woman and her husband who had taken the bag were extremely obstinate that the bag was theirs; attempts to show the names, addresses or point to any of the bar codes on the bag were met with resistance. The situation could have become very violent had I not shouted for airport security to sort out the matter. I was probably relieved to correctly get my bag back despite the couple still non-apologetically seething for some reason. Call me ruthless but after that fiasco I had and still have no sympathy nor the need for any understanding of that couple's stupidity.

 

[Flashback]

That is another good reason to get to the baggage carousel near the exit point first. Unless you have a real stand-out, flash bag (or no checked bag at all), the last thing you want is for someone else to take your bag even if it looks quite similar.

I have had the unfortunate experience before of having to claim my bag from another person, and I could tell it was mine because I could recognise the ribbon which I had put on it, plus the existing scuffs etc. and the bulk of the bag gave it away. The woman and her husband who had taken the bag were extremely obstinate that the bag was theirs; attempts to show the names, addresses or point to any of the bar codes on the bag were met with resistance. The situation could have become very violent had I not shouted for airport security to sort out the matter. I was probably relieved to correctly get my bag back despite the couple still non-apologetically seething for some reason. Call me ruthless but after that fiasco I had and still have no sympathy nor the need for any understanding of that couple's stupidity.

That's terrible!

IMHO if they were resisting even after you pointed out your name, address etc on the bag to me that sounds like possible foul play in action .. :shock:

 

[NM]

IMHO if they were resisting even after you pointed out your name, address etc on the bag to me that sounds like possible foul play in action .. :shock:

I tend toward a different conclusion. More likely stubbornness and ignorance. If "foul play", the perpetrator would like just say "oh, terribly sorry, it looks just like mine." and move on. If they knew it was not their bag then no point in drawing attention to the fact or possible intervention by security personnel.

 

[Flashback]

I tend toward a different conclusion. More likely stubbornness and ignorance. If "foul play", the perpetrator would like just say "oh, terribly sorry, it looks just like mine." and move on. If they knew it was not their bag then no point in drawing attention to the fact or possible intervention by security personnel.

Hm, you raise a valid point there

 

[anat0l]

I tend toward a different conclusion. More likely stubbornness and ignorance. If "foul play", the perpetrator would like just say "oh, terribly sorry, it looks just like mine." and move on. If they knew it was not their bag then no point in drawing attention to the fact or possible intervention by security personnel.

What irks me the most though is that they had that big look on their face after the incident that the bag was still belonging to them. Obviously, they have never seen the signs around the area saying to check your bag tags and that taking the wrong bag from the belt is a punishable offence.

If they had checked and then backed away, fine. But they were obstinate and very resistant and uppity, notwithstanding that the husband looked like he was ready to deliver the shove of his life to me had I not reacted quickly.

 

[drron]

What irks me the most though is that they had that big look on their face after the incident that the bag was still belonging to them. Obviously, they have never seen the signs around the area saying to check your bag tags and that taking the wrong bag from the belt is a punishable offence.

If they had checked and then backed away, fine. But they were obstinate and very resistant and uppity, notwithstanding that the husband looked like he was ready to deliver the shove of his life to me had I not reacted quickly.

Well 1 shove and that would get him into trouble.
I actually had the opposite experience when I was accused of taking another fellows bag-it was the exact same bag but mine also has identifying ribbon on which he could not describe-no apologies either.

 

[tuapekastar]

...that couple's stupidity.

Nuff said!