When Paola Garcia’s luggage vanished at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, she didn’t just sit around waiting for it to magically reappear. Using her Apple Watch, she turned into a bit of a detective and tracked her missing belongings to an unexpected place: someone’s home in Fort Lauderdale.
Little did Paola know, surveillance footage pointed fingers at a 29-year-old airport retail worker named Junior Bazile. The footage showed him poking around in her suitcase before allegedly stashing it in a clear plastic bag.
Not one to let her stuff disappear without a fight, Paola followed her Apple Watch’s lead straight to the address it indicated. When she got there, she found a bunch of suitcases scattered around. Worried about her safety, she called 911.
After some digging by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Bazile was arrested on grand theft charges. Even though Spirit Airlines claimed they couldn’t find any proof their staff was involved, they still sent Paola a reimbursement check as a gesture of goodwill.
As the investigation continues, this whole ordeal sheds light on the risks of airport operations and the need for passengers to stay vigilant about their belongings.