Airports, suitcases, flights, arrests and Apple technology. A story that has it all and helped Paola García, a Spirit Airlines traveler, not only find her stolen luggage. using Apple search systems, but on top of that, it would bring to the table what could be an entire Hollywood airport mafia. Yes, exactly there, to give an even more cinematic touch to this true story.
It all started when I lost my suitcase.
According to what the protagonist told a local media outlet, the beginning of this story takes place when she lands at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, while waiting for her suitcase. No details about the origin or reason for the trip are given, but that doesn’t matter either. The interesting thing begins when Two hours had passed and his suitcase did not appear.. Exasperating and worrying for any traveler.
Without leaving the airport, Paola spoke with the staff of Spirit Airline, the low-cost airline with which she had traveled. They apologized for the delay and urged him to return home, promising that when they finally got his suitcase out of the hold, they would send it home. And that’s what Paola did.
The Apple Watch warned where the luggage was
The day was over and Paola had no new information about the whereabouts of her luggage. It was already the next morning when he had to remember that In his lost suitcase, he had an Apple Watch and a MacBook. It was the watch that would give him the first clue to his location.
Thanks to the “Find” application on the iPhone, all devices linked to the Apple account can be located, in addition to AirTags and other location accessories. This is the tool that Paola had to use to find the location of her Apple Watch, which He was in a house fifteen minutes from the airport. Suspicious.
A few minutes later, the MacBook also showed the same location. It seemed strange that it was a positioning problem and they were actually still at the airport, so he took his own car and drove to this house personally.
The great discovery that gives rise to an investigation
Apple’s “Search” application, key to locating the suitcase
Paola García arrived at this place and discovered how the house was full of suitcases. We don’t know if he located his, but it was clear that it must have been there and that whoever lived there had a hobby or profession of stealing luggage at the airport. Under these circumstances, he took photos with his iPhone and called the police.
The authorities were surprised and even blamed Paola for this visit to the suspect’s home. “It could be dangerous for you,” they told him. But it was enough for the police to finally arrest the thief. Little information is specified about it, but it is He’s an airport employee.
The thief is Junior Bazile, a 29-year-old man who worked as an employee at Paradies Shops, a chain of stores present mainly in American airports. It is known that he is currently detained, although the investigation is still ongoing.
The inmate may not be acting alone and even the airline is investigating whether thieves have infiltrated its staff.
Paola collected her suitcase, her Apple Watch and her MacBook. And, almost without meaning to, discovered what may be an organized gang dedicated to airport theft. Some sources indicated that police are convinced that the detainee took advantage of his work at the airport to steal, even if he was not acting alone. In any case, everything remains to be confirmed in view of the progress of the police.
For its part, Spirit Airlines publicly apologized to Paola and wanted to compensate her with a check to reimburse her trip. Likewise, they clarify that there is no evidence that airline workers could also be involved in this plot, although they also continue to investigate.
Cover image | Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels and Egor Myznik on Unsplash
In Applesfera | What to do if your iPhone is stolen: Step by step to recover, lock or wipe it remotely
In Applesfera | AirTag: what it is and how Apple technology works to find anything
