Baggage Handler Apprehended For Stealing Passenger’s Valuables At IGI Airport

In a major breakthrough, the team at PS IGI Airport has successfully cracked a case involving the theft of passengers’ belongings, resulting in the recovery of 13 high-end wristwatches and an iPhone 14 Pro Max. The investigation, initiated under FIR No. 186/23 dated 29.06.23, U/s 379 IPC, PS IGI Airport, Delhi, has unveiled a significant network of thieves operating at the airport, prompting stringent measures to curb such incidents. In 2023 alone, 25 individuals involved in baggage thefts have been apprehended, and substantial stolen property has been reclaimed.

Incident

The recent FIR was filed at P.S. IGI Airport following the complaint of Mr. Anil Kapoor. He reported that he and his family were en route to Halifax, Canada, availing wheelchair assistance from Lufthansa Airlines. Among their belongings was a brand-new iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB, valued at approximately Rs. 1,75,000, intended as a gift for his son in Canada. Kapoor alleged that during the check-in process, the person assisting them with the wheelchair was closely monitoring their actions. Upon arriving in Canada and retrieving their luggage, Kapoor discovered the iPhone missing from his bag, and the lock had been tampered with.

Team and Investigation Conducted

A dedicated team led by Insp. Yashpal Singh, SHO/IGI Airport, and supervised by Sh. Virender Mor, ACP/IGI Airport, was formed. Their mission was to apprehend the thief and scrutinize the roles of relevant parties. The team meticulously reviewed CCTV footage and questioned all loaders on duty during that shift.

Ultimately, Neeraj Kumar, a loader employed by BWFS and residing at H.No. 188, Gali No. 2, Qutab Vihar, Ph-II, Goyla Dairy, Delhi, confessed to stealing the iPhone and implicated himself in numerous previous thefts from passengers’ luggage. He disclosed that several airline staff had assisted him in these thefts.

The investigation uncovered lapses in airline security practices, with allegations of non-compliance with guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Officials from Lufthansa Airlines and Spicejet Airlines have been implicated in facilitating these thefts, and they are currently being interrogated and charged accordingly.

Recovery

In addition to the stolen iPhone 14 Pro, the authorities recovered 13 high-end branded wristwatches from the accused. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the police staff, various stolen items have been reclaimed in 2023, including 35 mobile phones, 01 Innova Car, 01 motorcycle, 07 household articles, along with 10 gold articles, 08 silver articles, and 13 high-end wristwatches, all attributed to the staff of PS IGI Airport. These accomplishments mark significant progress in dismantling the airport baggage theft network and ensuring passenger safety.