Think the airlines lost your luggage? Think again. If you're at a South Florida airport, and you can't find your roller bag on the carousel, thieves may have already run off with your suitcase.
Broward Sheriff's Office have arrested Sean Maxell, 44, and Lorina Flint, 42, a husband and wife team that have been allegedly stealing luggage right off the carousel at both Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport over the past 3 months.
On March 1, a Delta passenger wasn't able to locate their luggage after it had been scanned by the airlines. Surveillance video revealed that a well-dressed man removed the baggage from the carousel and entered a Cadillac Escalade waiting outside, according to a Broward Sheriff's Office report. The contents inside were valued at over $300.
Almost two months later, on May 7, a US airways passenger at FTL reported that they couldn't find their luggage. Video revealed the same man from the March 1 incident removing the passenger's bags from baggage claim and leave the terminal. The passenger estimated the contents inside to be worth over $1,500.
The suspect was finally caught on Sunday when a FTL employee identified him from flyers distributed to staff. Maxwell had just taken a bag from the terminal and was trying to place it in a Jeep Cherokee outside when a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy confronted him.
On the arrest report, the officer noted that Maxwell was "sweating profusely and appeared to be very nervous." Flint, later described as the "getaway driver," also appeared very nervous and began to stutter as she answered the officer's questions.
Flint had a large red suitcases already in the backseat as well as other miscellaneous travel items like toiletry bags, clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, and hair irons. The officer also found 6 pill bottles with the names scratched off, which contained opiates and amphetamines.
Flint told the officer the car was a rental, although the rental contract did not match the car's tag, which had been "obviously altered" with white-out and stickers, according to the arrest report.
Miami Dade Police told BSO that Maxwell had also stole luggage at Miami International Airport on April 30 and May 7.
Maxwell was arrested on 10 charges, including grand theft and fraud, and is being held on $115,075 bond.
Monday, Flint told a Broward judge that she and Maxwell live with 8 children and couldn't afford a lawyer or post bond, reports the Sun Sentinel.