An airline worker and his wife was arrested after being caught on camera stealing stranded luggage from passengers who were diverted to other airports amidst the Asiana Airlines crash chaos at San Francisco International Airport.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Sean Sharif Crudup, 44, a United Airlines customer service agent and his wife, Raychas Elizabeth Thomas, 32, both of Calif., were caught of camera stealing pieces of luggage. Surveillance video shows Crudup going into the airport baggage office, taking a piece of luggage and handing it over to Thomas. He was then seen returning to the office, taking more luggage, and handing it to another woman who has not yet been identified. The group later left the airport.
"Ms. Thomas had taken a bunch of the clothing to Nordstrom to sell it back," said San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe. "A search warrant was issued for their home in Richmond, and a large number of the items were found there."
"On July 8 our victims were flying home to SFO from the Cayman Islands," Wagstaffe said. "Their luggage, several pieces, which contained an extensive amount, $30,000 of clothing ... went on an earlier plane and landed at SFO before the crash."
Their plane had been diverted to Houston and then to Los Angeles and they rented a car to head north. When they arrived at the luggage area of the San Francisco Airport, their bags could not be located. It is unclear if this practice is done often or if the couple and others only took advantage of the chaos going on at the airport on the day that Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash landed.
Crudup and Thomas were arrested at the airport, where the thefts occurred. They were about to head on a trip to Hawaii on July 25 for their birthdays. Both have been charged with felony grand theft and two counts of commercial burglary for stealing the bags.
"Whether we'll have future charges [against the couple], law enforcement will let us know," Wagstaffe said. Either way, "Thievery when no one's around, I find it deplorable, especially if they're taking advantage of a case like this.... I find it a serious breach of trust."
The couple is out on bail and scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 26. They could each face up to four years and four months in prison if convicted.
United spokesman Christen David said the airline is investigating the incident. "We hold our employees to the highest standard and have zero tolerance for any theft," he said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
