After her stolen luggage disappeared when she landed at a Florida airport, a Spirit Airlines passenger was able to locate it by utilizing one of the stolen things to help with her frantic search.
After traveling back to the Sunshine State, Paola Garcia was waiting for her small pink hardshell suitcase at the Carousel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Inside were various Apple devices, including her personal MacBook and two Apple watches, according to Local 10.
Although the precise moment of the incident is still unknown, Garcia found the apparent culprit’s home before the local police did because of her urgency to locate her stolen items.
The tale of Apple Watch helping catch the thief
Garcia told the newspaper that although she usually checked her luggage before leaving New York, this time, Spirit Airlines staff forced her to do so. But when she saw other people grabbing their bags off the carousel and her own wasn’t showing up, she became anxious.
Garcia stated to the publication,
“In my mind, I’m thinking I need my computer because I go to the university, I need my computer no matter what,”
Garcia claimed that after waiting for “at least two hours,” she gave up expecting her bags to show up on the conveyor belt. Garcia told the newspaper that she was assured by Spirit Airlines staff not to worry and that her bags will be delivered to her home.
She started getting pings from one of her Apple Watches the following day, but they weren’t coming from the airport; instead, they were coming from a random Fort Lauderdale house that was fifteen minutes away.
According to an arrest affidavit acquired by Local 10, it was the residence of Junior Bazile, who worked at the Paradies Shops retail store at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. She went to the house, determined to get her stuff back, located her luggage and her belongings, and dialed 911 right away.
Garcia added that the “first thing” the cops did upon their arrival was to inquire as to why she was at the house.
