Traveler Tracks Down Stolen Suitcase and Finds Strangers Trying on His Clothes

A recent traveler never would have imagined where his belongings would end up after landing at LAX.

Daniel Scott, a California resident, flew into Los Angeles from Salt Lake City during the late hours of Tuesday, Aug. 26, according to local outlet NBC 4 Los Angeles.  After his flight, he tried to grab his suitcase from baggage claim and head home. But his luggage was nowhere to be found. 

Luckily, Scott had put an Apple AirTag inside. But after looking at its location, he realized it was moving — and leaving the airport. 

“I immediately started sprinting to the Uber lot. Once I got there, I saw that it was continuing to move, and it had reached across the street,” Scott said. “At that point, I’m like someone stole my bag for sure.”

Scott said the suitcase ended up a half mile away from LAX at a fenced-in, boarded-up abandoned building. Scott’s partner immediately called LAX police, who responded minutes later. 

“When they pulled up, they asked where it was,” Scott said. “Then they shined a light within the building and we saw some movement.”

He added: “When the guys came to the window — [officers] lined them up in the window — I saw the guy with my clothes on. He had my shoes on. He had my shirt on and my pants on.”

Scott shared video footage of LAX police detaining several people outside the video in an Aug. 30 TikTok.

After clearing the building, Scott said officers let him search for his belongings and suitcase. But his things were everywhere.

“This is a pretty big building and my clothes [were] scattered throughout in multiple different rooms,” he said. “But at the end of it I got about 90% of my items back, which I was super happy about.”

But Scott’s belongings weren’t the only items inside.

“There were multiple suitcases and clothing items scattered everywhere from other passengers,” Scott said in an email statement to PEOPLE. “This clearly showed me that the theft wasn’t an isolated incident and that these individuals have likely been stealing luggage on an ongoing basis, impacting many other travelers as well.”

According to an Aug. 27 Instagram post from the LAX Police Department, “five individuals were detained for further investigation.” One suspect was arreted and booked for grand theft while the other four were cited for trespassing and released pending further review.

According to police, Scott told authorities his bag contained $15,000 worth of high-end clothing.

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The incident “highlights a much bigger issues with baggage claims overall,” according to Scott.

He told PEOPLE, “This wasn’t another traveler mistakenly taking a bag, it was someone who simply walked in off the street and stole it. That raises serios concerns about security at baggage claim areas and shows how easy it is for non-travelers to gain access and take people’s belongings.

Scott says there wouldn’t have been any way to locate his things without the Airtag. But, he is encouraged by the amount of people who said they would now purchase a tracking device.

“I’m glad if my experience can help others protect themselves in the future,” he said.”