Search warrants recover close to $2 million in stolen property
On July 25, 2004 an Alexandria Officer notified MWAA dispatch that he had been advised by an anonymous person that an individual was selling clothing out of several suitcases in front of an Alexandria apartment complex. MWAA detectives responded to the location and observed an individual selling items from 9 separate pieces of luggage. The subject was voluntarily escorted to DCA where he answered basic questions and then asked for an attorney before answering any more. The questioning ended, but the suspect did allow officers to take custody of the items he was selling. Further investigation of surveillance video placed the suspect at the scene of the DCA baggage area at the time bags were reported stolen during the previous year.
Later that same day MWAA detectives arrived at the suspect’s residence to ask some more questions. They observed the suspect carrying a white plastic bag while entering an elevator. The detectives asked him if he would answer some questions, and the individual consented. When the detectives observed the suspect coming out of the elevator again, the plastic bag was gone. The detectives asked about the bag and the suspect responded that the bag had been thrown in the trash. The detectives proceeded downstairs and found the same bag under the stairwell, along with nine large pieces of luggage. The detectives took custody of the bags as abandoned property and inventoried them. They contained various men and women's clothes, as well as several cell phones and pieces of electronic equipment. Three of the cell phones had been reported lost by patrons who had previously made lost luggage claims at BWI, and one was reported stolen from BWI.
The next day a search warrant was issued by the Arlington County Magistrates office for the suspect’s residence. During the search, 17 items were seized, which included a large amount of jewelry, 10 suitcases, 2 bibles and a cd case.
On July 27, 2004 Safeway security officials provided MWAA detectives with video that have the suspect writing a check in the amount of $116.43 at an Arlington county Safeway. The check was from an account of a different name from the suspect, and a felony warrant for check forgery was issued for the suspect by Arlington county magistrates. A second felony warrant for possession of stolen property was issued for the suspect after $555.00 worth of jewelry that had previously been reported stolen from a patron at DCA was found in the luggage that the suspect had abandoned. The suspect was arrested and held without bond at Arlington county adult detention center.
On August 2, 2004 two more felony warrants were obtained for check forgery in the amount of $128.61 after the suspect was identified at a different Arlington Safeway, writing checks belonging to an individual who's property was found at the suspect’s residence.
Two additional search warrants were then served by MWAA police on the suspect’s residence and a storage unit leased by the suspect. Police discovered over 50 pieces of stolen baggage and other stolen items worth close to TWO MILLION DOLLARS. Included in this property was $890,000 worth of stolen jewelry, reported stolen from BWI airport.
The suspect has since admitted to stealing close to 1,000 pieces of luggage from all 3 surrounding airports, and has plead guilty in Arlington county court to 19 counts of Felony Larceny. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2005 in Arlington County.