In 2013, detectives conducted an undercover operation at Lindbergh Field.
Surveillance cameras caught Adrian Jones stealing luggage right off the carousel. With at least five victims, Jones admitted taking the luggage "for the thrill" and was placed on probation for three years.
San Diegan Tom Rodgers knows how the victims felt.
“I was yelling at the top of my lungs inside and outside of the airport for security and I got no response,” Rodgers said.
Last March, Tom and his wife flew home from their Vail ski trip, landing at Lindbergh Field. That's where his luggage was stolen right in front of him.
“I noticed someone picked it off the luggage rack, or off the carousel and started walking out with my luggage,” he said. “And I just assumed there was a mistake so I said, ‘excuse me, I think you have my luggage. The person turned around and said ‘no’ this is my luggage.”
After a brief conversation, Rogers said the suspect, Sergio Mauldin, eventually left the luggage and walked away.
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Another passenger helped Tom by following Mauldin into the next terminal where he was finally stopped by police and arrested. Mauldin pled guilty in August. He was put on probation and told to stay away from the airport.
In the last 2 years, NBC 7 Investigates found there have been 47 bags stolen at Lindbergh Field. We found 76 cases of items being taken out of luggage -- including an engagement ring, iPad and blender. Court documents reveal three people arrested at Lindbergh Field during that time period.
“It's a bigger problem than most people realize,” said George Hobia, a travel expert. He believes the numbers of stolen luggage are probably even higher. “I don't think the police department or the airport police really keep accurate statistics on bag theft. Once it's really a problem do we hear about it. I don't think a lot of people report their bag as stolen they simply go to the airline and say my bag wasn't there.”
Harbor Police Lt. John Forsyth has worked at Lindberg Field for over 25 years. He says the number of cases regarding stolen luggage are not that high, considering the high volume of passengers. Lt. Forsyth said, “In that two year time period we have had 36 million passengers come through the airport.”
Forsyth said officers patrol the airport often, but Rogers said from now on, he will be on alert. “I got mad cause I thought ‘what if I hadn't got my luggage?’ We had our computer in there we had valuables there. I mean it's a pretty big violation having your luggage taken.”
So how do you prevent luggage theft?
According to experts, when checking luggage, travelers should choose a brightly colored piece that will stand out. At the very least, passengers should place something distinctive on it, that marks the bag from others.
Also, when you get off the plane, get to the luggage carousel right away and keep an eye on every piece of luggage that comes out.
Rebecca Bloomfield with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority said beginning in July 2010, the Airport has used an online searchable database to track lost items at Lindbergh Field.
Click here to search the online database.
Between November 2013 and November 2014, the lost and found department received nearly 16,000 items. Of those, roughly 2,000 items have been returned to their owners, according to Bloomfield.
Items that are not claimed within 90 days are sent to auction, donated to the Harbor Police Department’s K-9 Unit for training purposes or destroyed.
