Many of us don’t think about how vulnerable our valuables are when we fly into an airport. However, according to a report, an estimated $1.25 billion worth of baggage was either lost or stolen from airports in 2018. While some theft occurs during the baggage handling process by airport employees, there’s also theft from strangers when a flight arrives. And with the mask mandate, many thieves feel even bolder when it comes to taking people’s luggage right off the carousel! And as you can imagine, if they get busted, they have a built-in defense, “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought it was mine.”
Sadly, this is what happened when the ashes of Doris Mooren, who was born in Northfield, Ohio, and died at age 92, were being flown back to her hometown. Her family held an intimate memorial service in California before taking a flight to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with a checked bag containing Doris’s ashes along with her death certificate. However, before they even had a chance to make it down to the baggage claim, the luggage was brazenly stolen right from the turnstile. And now the devastated family is desperate to get their loved one’s ashes back.
YouTube
At first, they figured it was a lost cause. Still, they decided to offer up a monetary reward to anyone who has information about the ashes whereabouts. However, airport security camera footage obtained by Fox 8 I-Team revealed the pair of thieves who stole Doris’ ashes.
YouTube
In the video, we see passengers arriving to claim their luggage at the baggage claim. We then see a man and a woman coming from the opposite direction approach the turnstile and casually grabbing two luggage pieces.
YouTube
They then wheel the luggage off and walk right out of the airport unchallenged.
YouTube
It’s also reported that other passengers reported their luggage stolen that night, so it’s possible the pair were picking luggage at random and committing this crime all day.
At this time, police are compiling evidence to bring Doris’s ashes home and deliver justice to the luggage thieves.