Kratos
25-07-10, 16:14
AN Air France flight attendant has been arrested after passengers lost jewellery and cash from hand luggage while they slept.
A 47-year-old stewardess, referred to as Lucie R., was arrested at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport and confessed to theft, a judicial source told French newspaper Le Figaro.
The stewardess is alleged to have gone through passengers' pockets and bags in mid-air on 142 long haul business-class flights between France and Asia to solve her money problems.
Police were alerted in January after five passengers on a flight to Tokyo lost the equivalent of around $US10,000 in foreign currency.
The complaints sparked a six-month long investigation as detectives cross-checked cabin crew rosters with further theft reports.
Police say she confessed to 26 separate thefts, but believe she committed dozens more. They also found she had a bank safe-deposit box full of jewellery as well as credit cards, cash, blank cheques and travellers' cheques at her home.
"Her bank accounts showed an absurd gap between her lifestyle and her declared income," police said.
Lucie R. is reported to have worked mainly in business class and began stealing in March 2009 to ease financial problems.
Since January, there have been about 140 thefts, the newspaper said.
"The Japanese were ideal prey because they travel with lots of cash - euros and yen - instead of paying with credit cards," a police source said.
If convicted, the woman faces 10 years in prison.
Passengers who had items stolen said they will ask their insurers for reimbursement.
Air France said it is responsible only for checked-in baggage and not items taken on board flights.
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source:
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/air-france-flight-attendant-stole-from-passengers/story-e6frfq80-1225894887750
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Be careful people:hippie:
A 47-year-old stewardess, referred to as Lucie R., was arrested at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport and confessed to theft, a judicial source told French newspaper Le Figaro.
The stewardess is alleged to have gone through passengers' pockets and bags in mid-air on 142 long haul business-class flights between France and Asia to solve her money problems.
Police were alerted in January after five passengers on a flight to Tokyo lost the equivalent of around $US10,000 in foreign currency.
The complaints sparked a six-month long investigation as detectives cross-checked cabin crew rosters with further theft reports.
Police say she confessed to 26 separate thefts, but believe she committed dozens more. They also found she had a bank safe-deposit box full of jewellery as well as credit cards, cash, blank cheques and travellers' cheques at her home.
"Her bank accounts showed an absurd gap between her lifestyle and her declared income," police said.
Lucie R. is reported to have worked mainly in business class and began stealing in March 2009 to ease financial problems.
Since January, there have been about 140 thefts, the newspaper said.
"The Japanese were ideal prey because they travel with lots of cash - euros and yen - instead of paying with credit cards," a police source said.
If convicted, the woman faces 10 years in prison.
Passengers who had items stolen said they will ask their insurers for reimbursement.
Air France said it is responsible only for checked-in baggage and not items taken on board flights.
================================================== ===============
source:
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/air-france-flight-attendant-stole-from-passengers/story-e6frfq80-1225894887750
================================================== ================
Be careful people:hippie: