Nova Scotia

3 Halifax Stanfield Airport baggage handlers charged with theft

Three baggage handlers are facing theft charges after allegedly stealing from checked luggage at Halifax Stanfield International Airport last month.

Men accused of searching through checked luggage last month

RCMP have charged three baggage handlers at Halifax Stanfield International Airport with theft. (CBC)

Three baggage handlers are facing theft charges after allegedly stealing from checked luggage at Halifax Stanfield International Airport last month.

"Theft from luggage on any aircraft is very concerning," RCMP Cpl. Andrew Joyce said in a press release.

The luggage had already been loaded on the aircraft prior to the Jan. 27 incident, according to the release. RCMP worked closely with the airport to identify the employees who were allegedly searching through the luggage.

Three men were arrested on theft charges on Feb.1. Two of the men are 23 years old, and from Stewiacke and Dutch Settlement. The other man is a 19-year-old from Halifax.

The 23-year-old from Stewiacke also faces a charge of possession of stolen property.

Joyce told CBC News he believes the men were contract workers. He said he did not know whether they were contracted by the airport or an airline.

He wouldn't say which airline is involved in this case, or how the incident was discovered. He also wouldn't say what the men were after.

Joyce said these types of charges don't appear to be very common at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. 

Further arrests and charges are anticipated. 

Police encourage travellers to always lock their luggage, but keep the key easily accessible in case security needs to do a check.