Man, others, “caught stealing passengers’ money on Arik Air flight”
An unidentified man, along with other accomplices, were allegedly caught stealing money from passengers’ luggage on an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Abuja this morning.
Eyewitnesses say the man pretended to take cash from his bag, but took from another passenger’s bag.
He was accosted by an Arik Air staff who pretended to be asleep but watched all activities on the plane.
The witness said, “I understand the thieves board early, they monitor those who aren’t seated with their hand luggage in view. Wait for time to operate.
“I also noted that this operation likely happens mostly on very early flights. More people sleep during such flight because they woke up too early.
“Arik Air actually had someone pose like a regular passenger seated far behind pretending to be asleep. That person saw everything.
“They used to catch them before they complete the cash transfer, but the thieves would claim, ‘sorry, I thought it was my bag’
“This time though, the boy let them complete the transfer before making his own move. They were caught literally in the act.
“The authorities were alerted as soon as the incident happened when we were airborne. They came in on arrival,” the witness added.
The man denied the act, but has been handed over to the police along with other accomplices.
