Michael Hegstad, Phoenix Airport Bag Handler, Accused Of Stealing Over 1,000 Bags

AOL Travel News:

A baggage handler at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been arrested on suspicion of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of items from passenger luggage.

Michael Hegstad, 23, was taken into custody after officers saw him remove items from two boxes he was taking off a baggage conveyor belt. He admitted to police to repeatedly taking items from luggage at the airport.

Read the whole story: AOL Travel News

Comments

[anitaj]

02:39 AM on 09/07/2010

"...passengers should always keep valuables on their person rather than in checked bags."
---Sky Harbor spokeswoman

Excellent idea. Another excellent idea would be for airports to monitor the luggage handlers.

[Polish Scholar]

11:26 AM on 09/05/2010

So lazy of him. All the employee had to do was to just take the unclaimed bags that sit at every airport for 60 days. There is a special room for them. After 60 days they're up for grabs. Some make a business out of taking them (by selling the contents on Ebay, etc.)

[Hank007]

07:51 PM on 09/04/2010

I've travelled all over the world on business and for pleasure. The only airport in the world I avoid is Phoenix. Going through customs there is a huge hassle when transferring from an international flight, and security intentionally runs drills and other nonsense to purposely hassle travelers and impose their will. Even the business class lounge attendants are A-wholes.

[paixa3]

06:20 PM on 09/04/2010

One has to earn a living.

Times are tough.

(I am not in agreement with his behaviour, just need some snark).

[thewirah]

03:52 PM on 09/04/2010

He only got to steal from 1000 bags before getting caught? That's probably called "very bad luck" in airport language.

[VivaGelato]

03:31 PM on 09/04/2010

I love the comment from the baggage handling company,"
A Sky Harbor spokeswoman says airport security is why Hegstad was caught and officials aren't looking to make any changes." Interesting measure of success-he plundered a thousand or so bags, and eventually was caught. I would hate to have these people in charge of security-a thousand terrorists got through, but we did catch the 1001st one, so therefore we do not need to make any changes...

[jozie]

03:13 PM on 09/04/2010

Another headline fail. If you read the article, or even just the brief part on this page, it says that he stole items from bags, not the actual luggage, which would be really hard to hide as he left work each day.

[jymfrancais]

12:23 PM on 09/04/2010

Its a very coward way of stealing .Give him 50 years..:)

[WA-violins]

01:59 AM on 09/05/2010

In some cultures, he's lose a hand or an ear...

[blurredmolly]

08:03 AM on 09/05/2010

Ahhhh, Muslim justice.

[ontariogirl]

10:56 AM on 09/04/2010

It's in the bag man!

[Nick2]

09:32 AM on 09/04/2010

At least he's not an illegal alien.

[WA-violins]

02:00 AM on 09/05/2010

Then have more integrity.

[blurredmolly]

08:03 AM on 09/05/2010

Like you?

[Hnorc]

07:54 AM on 09/04/2010

"A Sky Harbor spokeswoman says airport security is why Hegstad was caught and officials aren't looking to make any changes."

Right, because he only stole a little over 1,000 bags. Great security alright.

[KataVideo]

02:06 AM on 09/04/2010

Funny... Michael Hegstad doesn't sound like an illegal alien name...

[blastocyst]

06:15 AM on 09/04/2010

"...an illegal alien name..."

_________________________

In that vein: "Police ID Suspect In V!olent Center City R@pe"

The fellow described in the article has one, a name that is. Several it would appear.

http://cbs3.com/topstories/Downtown.Rape.Chinatown.2.1895171.html

[Hank007]

07:52 PM on 09/04/2010

Unless he is Swedish, and like 30% of the illegals currently in the country, came legally on a visa which he has overstayed.

[harriettubman]

12:36 AM on 09/04/2010

Between baggage handlers and postal employees I don't who's worse for thievery? Don't put any cash in cards now, your recipient will never get it. Just mailed some beautiful baby clothes. Thank goodness they were insured; never made it to their destination. Had it traced at the PO and was told it went to a certain state but never to the state it was supposed to go to. Ok, then why couldn't someone call that post office and inquire about that box instead of me filling out forms then waiting weeks to get my insurance money?

[ibisko]

11:02 PM on 09/03/2010

the oxymoron of "airport security"
plenty weapons go missing.

[Morgen13]

06:42 PM on 09/03/2010

I hope this guy will fry for what he did...seriously?? "Thousands"??

[paixa3]

06:22 PM on 09/04/2010

Fry? Seriously? If he were a war criminal, I would agree.

[blurredmolly]

08:05 AM on 09/05/2010

Fry? For this? Really?

[Morgen13]

05:08 PM on 09/06/2010

totally....it is the worst. Similar to thugs taking you entire wallet. Take the cash...leave the other stuff. The worst if having to stand in the DMV.

So in this guys case, what is he actually getting out of the suitcases? A few bucks here and there? I rather just hand the guy a 20 for not stealing my stuff. Its the replacing of close and other items that make so reprehensible. They are stealing your time more than anything substantially monetary. I just think that sucks....but that is just my two cents