An airline subcontractor has admitted to stealing more than $16,000 worth of goods from luggage belonging to two passengers this month.
Authorities in the US State of Florida say an airline subcontractor stole nearly $16,000 worth of items out of luggage from two different passengers. The sheriff’s office was able to locate the missing luggage using Apple’s AirTag location beacons to triangulate the thief’s residence.
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Florida resident Giovanni De Luca is accused of taking $15,000 in jewelry and other items from a traveler’s luggage on August 9. The airline subcontractor at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport was also charged with stealing $1,600 worth of goods from a passenger in July.
The sheriff’s office used Apple’s AirTag technology to track the missing luggage. Law enforcement officials worked with the passengers to track the bags to a Mary Esther, Florida location. Investigators then cross-referenced the site of the AirTag to De Luca’s address. Sheriff Eric Aden praised the teamwork that made the operation a success:
“This arrest is an example of excellent teamwork by our Airport Security Unit, our Investigators, and the Airport to find the person responsible for these thefts and make sure he is held responsible.”
The AirTags themselves are light and small, weighing only 11 grams, 1.26 inches in diameter, and only 8mm thick. Photo: Apple
A second AirTag to the rescue.
An investigation was launched after the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Airport Security Unit became aware of suspicious activity at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. Last month, a traveler through the Florida airport reported her luggage never arrived at her destination. The suitcase, containing items worth more than $1600, was listed as lost/stolen. The owner was able to follow the location of an Apple AirTag she embedded in her suitcase when it last showed as active in the area of Kathy Court in Mary Esther. The small town on the Florida panhandle is over 10 miles west of the airport.
The case was revisited this month when the sheriff’s department had a similar call to the same address. A second traveler reported more than $15,000 dollars in jewelry and other items had been taken from his luggage on August 9. During the second investigation, Deputies from the Sherriff’s department worked with the airport to cross-reference employees living near Kathy Court. OCSO Investigators visited the address in question this week where they apprehended 19-year-old Giovanni De Luca. The airline subcontractor admitted to the robbery and currently faces two counts of grand theft.
Officers were able to recover the items reported missing on August 9. The first set of belongings has not yet been recovered, and the sheriff’s office stated that De Luca admitted rummaging through the first victim’s suitcase and removing an Apple AirTag. The theft follows that of another Florida man who was caught stealing baggage from Spirit Airlines passengers.
Devices like the Apple AirTag and competitors may help to find luggage that is delayed or misdelivered. Photo: Getty Images
The rise of luggage tracking.
The use of Bluetooth tracking devices such as Tile and AirTag has risen significantly recently. Simple Flying previously covered using the Apple AirTag to track luggage. The device uses encrypted Bluetooth technology to send its location to the owner’s “Find My” app on other devices. The products are notable as they do not require data to work, only the presence of another Apple device in the immediate vicinity. The vast network of Apple devices can make it easier to locate items in crowded areas or a different location to the owner.
Airlines such as Delta Air Lines have also integrated features into their mobile applications, enabling users to track their bags and get notified when they move.
