Richmond RCMP arrested a man in connection with their investigation into luggage thefts at YVR airport.
The Mounties announced on Friday that the single male suspect was identified from surveillance video taken on the day of the theft. The thief’s image was circulated to police and security personnel at the airport.
The man was arrested a week after the original theft, according to the RCMP, when he returned to YVR. The suspect was identified by an on-duty RCMP officer and taken into custody before he could steal again.
The RCMP said they are still investigating the thefts with YVR security, and are “tracing the suspect’s steps” to determine whether or not the man was working alone.
The arrest was made after Jocelyn Pettit, an internationally-renowned B.C. dancer and musician, had her suitcase of music and dance gear stolen after she landed at YVR earlier this month.
Pettit said that the baggage claim in the airport’s domestic arrivals area is “not secure.”
In 2017, a 46-year-old man was arrested for a spree of luggage stealing from the domestic arrival carousels at YVR.
Richmond police strongly recommend being “extra mindful” of your belongings when travelling, and to report any suspicious activity or people to authorities.
PLEASE BE AWARE
— Jocelyn Pettit (@jocelyn_pettit) July 20, 2019
The #Vancouver @yvrairport domestic arrivals baggage area is not secure. My suitcase of music & dance gear was stolen this week, and I was told this has happened before. It is my hope that there can be effective change, to prevent this from happening to others. https://t.co/qP8nv7zYnv
