Get All Access for $5/mo

She Tracked Her Missing Luggage With an Apple Device — Straight to an Airport Employee's Home Paola Garcia flew into Terminal 4 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month when she noticed her luggage never made it to the carousel — then her Apple Watch started pinging.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Many travelers drop an Apple Airtag inside luggage to track their belongings in case they are misplaced or delayed — but using an Apple Watch is not as routine.

For one Florida flyer, however, an Apple Watch helped find the location of another Apple device inside her stolen luggage — and she tracked it to the home of an airport employee.

Paola Garcia flew into Terminal 4 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month, though her hardshell luggage didn't arrive at baggage claim after being forced to check the bag at boarding. She said the bag contained her MacBook and two Apple Watches.

Related: Woman Traces Luggage via Apple AirTag to 'Sketchy' Apartment

The college student needed the laptop for an exam the next day.

Spirit Airlines asked Garcia for her address to mail the missing luggage. The next morning, her Apple Watch began pinging a location to another Watch she had at home from a mysterious location fifteen minutes from the airport.

"I said how can Spirit deliver my suitcase there," Garcia told local outlet Local 10. "I needed my computer. I [had a] test that day."

Garcia then decided to drive to the address herself, which ended up being the home of 29-year-old airport retail store employee, Junior Bazile, who was working the day Garcia's luggage went missing. Upon arrival, Garcia said that she saw tons of suitcases, videotaped them, and called the police.

Police charged Bazile with grand theft after surveillance footage showed the suspect removing the electronics from Garcias's bag and putting them into clear plastic bags. He faces five to 30 years in prison and fines from $5,000 to $10,000.

Garcia's items were already gone when authorities arrived at the house.

Related: How an Apple AirTag Found Luggage Better than an Airline

Spirit Airlines told Local 10 that it sent a reimbursement check to Garcia last month and maintained that they were not aware of any Spirit employee being involved in the scheme.

"We take any allegation of this nature seriously, and we are investigating," the airline said.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business Process

How CEOs Can Take Control of Their Emails and Achieve Inbox Zero

Although there are many methodologies that leaders can use to manage their emails effectively, a consistent and thought-through process is the most effective way to systemize and respond to emails and is a step of stewardship for the effective leader.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.