(USA): Connecticut State Police bust baggage handler burglary ring at Bradley International Airport
Tuesday, 3 Mar 2009
Connecticut State Police bust baggage handler burglary ring at Bradley International Airport
By GEORGE GRAHAM
WINDSOR LOCKS - A Springfield man and Westfield man are among 13 suspects arrested by Connecticut State Police in connection with a burglary ring that preyed on air travelers at Bradley International Airport.
Eight of those arrested worked as baggage handlers for Delta Global Services, including, Gabriel Serrano, of 11 Moore St., Springfield and Angel Rodriguez, of 34 Southview Terrace, Westfield, according to state police.
Several Delta Airline employees and a family member of a suspect became involved by tampering with evidence, state police said.
State police said they initiated the investigation on Aug. 10 after receiving a complaint of an I-pod theft from baggage from a Delta flight. Troopers determined that in addition to the theft of property, a cargo storage unit had been burglarized and items were taken.
Troopers, after receiving search and seizure warrants allowing them to search several locations, recovered a substantial amount of stolen property, state police said.
Recovered items included laptop computers, flat screen televisions, cameras, I-pods, GPS units, jewelry, watches, earrings and five-foot high wooden African masks.
Rodriguez was charged with larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, receiving a commercial bribe, criminal liability to commit larceny and conspiracy to commit circumventing security measures.
Serrano was charged with larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, circumventing security measures, conspiracy to circumvent security, tampering with evidence and giving a false statement.
State police said this is the first phase of arrests in the ongoing criminal investigation.