This really is the ideal time to steal luggage. No, no. I am most certainly not advocating that you steal luggage from anyone at anytime. But in an era of universal masks, I can’t think of a better time to make off with someone else’s suitcase at the airport near you. That is, unless you’re the repeat-offending Southwest Airlines luggage thief in Denver.
The Southwest Airlines Luggage Thief Strikes Again
There’s what I’d call a “typical” local-news story floating around about a woman allegedly denied compensation on Southwest Airlines after her bag was stolen. It has all the elements of a perfect story for local news: it pulls at your heartstrings, is light on facts, and is probably unnecessary in the first place. That’s why my lead-in was not this story, but the wider issue.
After flying Southwest, Cristal Outman found her bag never turned up at baggage claim in Denver. Southwest told her the bag had been unloaded, but helped her file a claim and told her to buy essentials and save the receipts.
The luggage never turned up. Eventually, she reviewed security camera footage of the incident and found a man had walked off with her bag and her husband’s bag.
Denver police actually caught the thief. His name was Bruce Feaster and he was a repeat-offender. Yes, apparently Feaster makes a habit (4x in the past) of helping himself to bags at Denver International. Feaster, you’re not Marilyn Hartman. It was too late for Outman’s bag, though.
After submitting a $1,500 claim to Southwest, she received word that Southwest had denied her claim. When she pressed Southwest for a reason, Outman claims Southwest simply told her there was a “discrepancy” in her claim that required no further explanation.
Southwest now says it is “reconsidering” her claim.
CONCLUSION
Maybe this is a story about how Southwest will try to wear you out and you have to be insistent if you want compensation for your lost, delayed, or damaged bag. Maybe this is a non-story because Southwest is still examining the information and we don’t know what its final decision will be. But I tend to think the big story is the thief itself. I am frankly surprised we are not seeing more instances of baggage theft. When has there been a better time to steal a bag than in an era in which all passengers and all employees must wear masks?
Yet another reason not to check a bag…
image: Fox 31 Denver / Fair Use Exception
In Asia, many airports do not allow non-flying customers to be inside the terminal, e.g. baggage claim, around check-in counters. When passengers exit the airport with their luggage, they are advised to retain the baggage checked tag(s) for inspection. I don’t know if this is true, but I heard that in some countries, your hand will be cut off immediately if you are caught stealing anything.
I’ve never understood how/why it’s a thing in the US for baggage reclaim to be landside (even in some international terminals). In Europe (and indeed in most countries I’ve visited in Asia and Africa as well) you cannot simply turn up at an airport and pick up a bag from a belt – they’re all airside, so you’ve either flown in or there’s simply no way to access an airport’s baggage reclaim area.
Well this is the USA, and in case you haven’t noticed things are done differently here. Rather it’s the best, right way or not!
We don’t learn from other Countries. Just look at us now!
Just look at France, Spain and the UK.
Worse Covid than the USA.
As unfortunate as it happens to be, after 40 years of working in the commercial aviation field I have seen much theft not only by civilian’s at baggage claims, but by ramp agents when luggage is checked in and by TSA agents. And, as disconcerting as it happens to be, most of these crimes are committed by American Blacks.
Wow. Racist much?
No stats here but socioeconomic inequality and other problems inordinately burden the black American demographic. This means despite their minority population they have higher per capita crime rates. It’s a sad story, rather than a racist one. A sad story of systemic problems.
God Bless America & vote for Trump!
Yes, we could improve on a few things be emulating Europe!
For example: pay a buck for your grocery cart then return your cart & get your back or not! Save labor on grocery cart collection!
Weighing ones fruit & vegies B 4 check-out! Reduce prices by saved labor cost!
Ride ones bike for ALL local shopping!
Saving on gas, less fat people etc
That’s crazy you’re saying most of these crimes are committed by blacks. How would you know that have you worked at every airport or been to every airport and witness only black ppl stealing? Stop being a racist. People steal regardless what and who they are. Ppl like you are the problems always pointing fingers and playing the blaming game.
Baggage handling is a low-status, low-skill, and low-pay job; those have a tendency to be filled by Blacks in many parts of the US…and, well, people tend to not commit crimes they don’t have the opportunity to commit. And air port security is such that the only people who should have the opportunity to steal back there are the baggage handlers.
It’s just the system’s biases and who has access at work here, not racism on the part of those who notice the results. But we certainly could stand not making it easy, and/or improving its status. That won’t happen until the airports and airlines are firmly held responsible for checked luggage, though…
It’s airside for all international arrivals in the US (except for those that pre-clear).
Also airside at some airports so it really depends. T4 at JFK is one for example.
Black lives matter
If you going to steal stuff, surely it would be more profitable to target UA or AA bags with a premium bag tag, not Southwest. Bruce needs some training in his chosen career.
SWA fulfilled the contract and the bag was delivered on time to the airport owned claim facility. The fact is SWA should in no way pay anything. Her claim needs to be with the airport authority for not providing adequate security. Years past there was an agent at the exit and you had to provide a matching claim check to exit.
The airport allows this predatory scum to loiter and prey upon innocents. Why is he not in state prison! Possibly because liberals are in the state attorneys office and allow crime to repeat with impunity. All the shit you have to do to use air travel today and then this is ALLOWED to happen. I am sorry for the victim but you get the government you vote for. LOL
Joint and several liability…
Is it because liberals are in office that nonviolent offenders walk? Or maybe it’s because Republicans have filled the prison system with nonviolent drug offenders and there is simply no room for a misdemeanor thief.
Not true. We have the highest rates followed by India, Brazil, Russia, and Columbia. We also have the highest deaths with over 20% of total world deaths but less than 5% of the population. Trump has not and continues to not follow basic scientific protocol for dealing with it. This should be the one time all Americans are on the same page. This should not be a political football. People should simply learn the actual scientific facts rather than just listening to a few politicians who are only interested in saving their jobs.
As part of his punishment, he should be barred from the airport for life. A restraining order not to go within 1/10 of a mile from any airport in the court’s jurisdiction does not sound the least bit absurd at this point. Petition DHS to place him on the No-Fly list to prevent any potential “legit” business there going forward!
Um, Ryan old chum, it was Bill Clinton that initiated the 3 strikes bill.
Correct spot on
I can believe it my bags were opened items stolen and destroyed when i got off my plane.Southwest was uncaring and rude.
Years ago, US domestic terminals did have staff to verify that arriving passengers had receipt stubs that matched bag tags. Then they decided to economize by dealing with occasional stolen bags, rather than paying more personnel salaries.
At LAX about ten years ago, there was an operation where a couple of guys would drive up curbside with a pickup truck and take bags, as if they were an authorized delivery firm.
The Florida airports were known for stolen golf clubs.
I had a brand new luggage and southwest put a big dent in and they have not refunded me yet and this has been a year
If you had solid proof that the bag was damaged by 50A- then they should pay but you must have proof.
Take them to small claims court just like I did with Iberia and won.
This incident should serve as reason and precedence for airports in the US to add at baggage claim and pickup areas, same layers of security and identification found at baggage drop off. No traveller checks-in a baggage without presenting a form of identification. Why allow baggage to be picked up and moved out of the airports without an identification, and prove that the individual or passenger is the owner or is with the owner of the luggage?
US airports have done well to make baggage drop-off and baggage claim areas accessible to public, yet this ought to be the more reason why beefing up security and identification of persons and baggage here is more crucial.
This incident should serve as reason and precedence for airports in the US to add at baggage claim and pickup areas, same layers of security and identification found at baggage drop off. No traveller checks-in a baggage without presenting a form of identification. Why allow baggage to be picked up and moved out of the airports without an identification, and prove that the individual or passenger is the owner or is with the owner of the luggage?
US airports have done well to make baggage drop-off and baggage claim areas accessible to public, yet this ought to be the more reason why beefing up security and identification of persons and baggage here is the more crucial.
Unfortunately this thief is my stepbrother. I tried numerous times to help him to get on the right track. But his love for drugs and stealing people stuff got the better of him. He robbed me, my next door neighbor and some of our family members. Sad to say but he got what he deserves.
Years ago they used to check bags to q claim check to let you leave the area. Worker cutback ended that.
Why is the airline responsible for someone stealing your property from the airport? That’s like someone stealing something out your car at the gas station and you file a claim with 7-Eleven. You’re supposed to go through the police or court system right? The airport and airline are two separate entities as well. Maybe she should try and file with the airport.
Southwest is a Ghetto airline perfect who the N**** who are Trumpers
Come on man, you sound like a doucheblack for sleepy dementia. I guess he ain’t white enough too!
This is currently the norm at most airports that dont have a system in place to verify the passenger against the luggage. It is an opportune time as passenger loads are way down and staffing is also down. There are thieves taking advantage of seriously low air fares and traveling with zero luggage and returning same day with 2-3 bags.
He need to have been in Iraq or Saudi Arabia.Did this and got caught! He would been in jail with no hands.He would only be able to look at bags then.
This thug will continue to do this indefinitely because of several reasons. This liberal idea of prison reform, you know…non violent crimes. But these so-called non violent crimes cause a continuous chain of crimes where many people become victims and repeat criminals know nothing will happen to them. Soft judges and liberal D.As that refuse to prosecute…you know…because in many instances it’s the “people of color” and we don’t want to appear “racist.”
Soft punishment and sometimes letting off without punishment. Taking undue advantage of Human Rights.
Crimes will occur again and again and again.
I had 2 bags stolen flying Southwest going from Houston to LasVegas to get married. Spent 3 days buying clothes to wear instead of enjoying myself. I personally think it was an inside job and my baggage didn’t leave Houston. There was no way to track it She checked it in and wasn’t there for departure. Those airports could have a better system. I did learn a lesson through all this. Bring bag on and NOT fly Southwest again!!!