Sachin Walls
Luggage theft is a common occurrence at airports, with repeat offenders often targeting carousels to steal bags. In 2022, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recorded 477 cases of baggage theft, a significant increase from previous years. Similarly, Nashville Airport has experienced a spate of luggage thefts by repeat offenders, and Sea-Tac Airport has seen a rise in both lost and stolen bags. The issue has also affected prominent figures, such as Sam Brinton, a Biden administration official accused of stealing luggage from two airports. Brinton, who identifies as gender fluid, was charged with felony theft and later accused of a second luggage theft, leading to a felony arrest warrant. Surveillance footage and social media posts identified Brinton, who initially denied but later apologized for their actions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Nashville Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport |
| Year | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Number of cases | 97 in 2011, 477 in 2022, 341 in 2023, 60 over a 5-year period |
| Type of thief | Repeat offenders, employees, passengers |
| Value of stolen items | $10,000, $1,700, $500, $1,400, $1,200-$5,000 |
| Method | Taking luggage from carousel/bag belt, stealing from baggage claim |
| Prevention | Carry-on luggage, avoiding stops before baggage claim, security cameras, social media posts |
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What You'll Learn
- Repeat offenders stealing luggage at Nashville airport
- Sam Brinton, a US government employee, charged with stealing luggage at two airports
- Luggage theft at Sea-Tac Airport hits an all-time high in 2022
- The best defence against luggage theft is to avoid checking a bag
- Surveillance footage captures Sam Brinton taking a suitcase from an airport carousel
Repeat offenders stealing luggage at Nashville airport
An investigation by WSMV4 has revealed that repeat offenders have been stealing luggage from Nashville International Airport® (BNA®). The report, which came out in May 2024, found that there were seven confirmed incidents of baggage theft between January 1, 2018, and December 18, 2023, during which time the airport handled almost 50 million passenger bags.
Many of the thieves have been repeatedly taking bags off the carousels, with one individual responsible for five luggage thefts in 2021 and three in 2022. This person has been incarcerated since 2022 for various offenses, including those committed at the airport.
Another suspect was named in eight bag thefts over a seven-month period in 2021 and 2022. He was caught on camera multiple times and was immediately recognized by airport police from previous bag thefts.
The investigation also found that Southwest Airlines had the most reported baggage thefts over the last five years.
While BNA has stated that their Department of Public Safety (DPS) implements a robust security program, victims of luggage theft have called on the airport to do more to keep their bags safe. They argue that there is security to get on a plane, but no security to get into the airport. BNA has responded by encouraging passengers to file a report with law enforcement if their bags go missing and by notifying customers when their bags are ready to be picked up at baggage claim.
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Sam Brinton, a US government employee, charged with stealing luggage at two airports
Sam Brinton, a former US government employee, has been charged with stealing luggage at two airports in the US. Brinton, who used to be a top Energy Department official in the Biden administration, is one of the federal government's first openly "gender fluid" employees and uses they/them pronouns.
Brinton was first charged with felony theft in October 2022 for stealing a traveler's bags worth a total of $2,325 from the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport in Minnesota on September 16. Surveillance footage captured Brinton taking a Vera Bradley suitcase from the carousel at around 4:45 p.m. after arriving at the airport on an American Airlines flight from Washington, DC. Brinton was also seen checking into a luxury riverfront hotel in St. Paul with the bag and traveling with it on two other occasions, according to court documents. When initially confronted, they denied taking someone else's bag but later apologized for not being "completely honest." Brinton then claimed they were tired and had picked up the wrong bag.
In early December 2022, Brinton was charged again by Las Vegas prosecutors with grand larceny. According to the arrest warrant, Brinton was caught on video stealing a woman's gray Away luggage from a carousel at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 6, 2022. The bag and its contents, including jewelry and makeup, were estimated to be worth $3,670.
Following these allegations, Brinton was placed on administrative leave by the Department of Energy and later left the agency. In May 2023, Brinton was arrested for the third time by Maryland police in connection with the alleged theft of luggage from Reagan National Airport.
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Luggage theft at Sea-Tac Airport hits an all-time high in 2022
Luggage theft is a growing problem at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, more commonly known as Sea-Tac Airport. In 2022, the number of reported luggage theft cases reached an all-time high of 477, a significant increase from the 97 cases reported in 2011. While the numbers have slightly dipped to 341 cases as of October 2023, the end-of-the-year travel season could further impact these figures.
The surge in luggage theft is attributed to the post-pandemic increase in passenger traffic. In 2022, a record-breaking 30 million bags passed through Sea-Tac Airport, resulting in a higher risk of luggage theft. Port of Seattle Police Detective Darin Beam affirmed the correlation between passenger volume and theft incidents, stating, "The numbers generally increase with the increased traffic that goes through here."
To address the issue, the Port of Seattle has taken proactive measures. They have issued 372 trespass notices to remove suspicious individuals from the airport premises, reflecting their heightened vigilance compared to the 186 notices issued in 2019, pre-pandemic.
Sea-Tac Airport is not the only airport grappling with luggage theft. Nashville Airport has also experienced a string of luggage thefts, with repeat offenders targeting bags from carousels. Victims have expressed frustration, as valuable items and entire wardrobes have gone missing.
The advice from those affected is consistent: always opt for carry-on luggage whenever possible to reduce the risk of theft. This proactive measure ensures that your belongings remain within your sight and minimizes the chances of becoming a victim of luggage theft.
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The best defence against luggage theft is to avoid checking a bag
Luggage theft is a growing problem at airports, with some individuals even returning to steal more bags after their first offence. In 2022, $7.45 billion worth of bags were lost, and while sometimes this is due to the airline's mistake, other times it is a clueless traveller mistaking your bag for theirs, or someone intentionally stealing.
If you do need to check a bag, make sure it stands out. Black suitcases, for example, are easy for thieves to swipe as they blend in with the hundreds of other basic black bags. Use bold stickers, neon tags, bright patches, or a colourful cover to make your bag easily identifiable. You can also get creative and print a picture of your face on the cover! Just be sure to avoid anything that could get tangled in machinery or block a scanner, like ribbons tied to the handle. Instead, use AirTags or similar tracking devices so you can monitor your bag's location.
It is also important to be vigilant when collecting your bag from the carousel. Most thefts happen at the bag belt, so avoid making any stops on your way to baggage claim. Stay alert and keep an eye on your belongings, so you can avoid becoming a victim of luggage theft.
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Surveillance footage captures Sam Brinton taking a suitcase from an airport carousel
Surveillance footage has revealed that Sam Brinton, a top Energy Department official in the Biden administration, stole a suitcase from an airport carousel. Brinton, the deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition at the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, was first accused of stealing a woman's Vera Bradley suitcase from a Minnesota airport. Court documents revealed that Brinton was captured on surveillance footage taking the suitcase from the carousel at around 4:45 pm after arriving at the airport on an American Airlines flight from Washington, DC. Brinton was also seen on footage checking into a luxury riverfront hotel in St. Paul with the bag and was later seen travelling with it on two other occasions.
When confronted by an investigator, Brinton initially denied taking someone else's bag but later apologised for not being "completely honest". Brinton then claimed that they had accidentally picked up the wrong bag and only realised the mistake upon reaching the hotel and opening the suitcase. However, there were no records of Brinton checking in a bag before leaving Washington, DC.
Following the incident in Minnesota, Brinton was charged with felony theft. Subsequently, a felony arrest warrant was issued for Brinton in connection with another accusation of luggage theft at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Las Vegas case involved the theft of a woman's grey Away luggage, estimated to be worth $3,670.74, including jewellery and makeup valued at $2,200. Brinton was identified as the suspect in both cases through airport security cameras and social media posts.
As one of the federal government's first openly "gender fluid" employees, Brinton's case has attracted significant attention. Brinton has been placed on administrative leave from their post with the Department of Energy (DOE), with a DOE spokesperson confirming that Brinton is "no longer a DOE employee". While Brinton's attorney has not responded to requests for comment, the DOE has emphasised that it takes criminal charges against DOE employees and clearance holders very seriously.
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Frequently asked questions
Repeat offenders have been found to be stealing luggage from Nashville airport.
There is no specific person identified as the culprit, but records show that cases of baggage theft have increased over the years.
Sam Brinton, a top Energy Department official in the Biden administration, has been accused of stealing luggage from Harry Reid International Airport.
It is recommended to avoid checking in your luggage and instead carry it with you as a carry-on item.
