Heathrow luggage thieves jailed

Thieves who stole from wealthy passengers who travelled through Heathrow airport in an “almost military” operation have been jailed. According to The Guardian, Gabriel Tadafe and Lee MacPherson distracted their victims by creating a disturbance before stealing briefcases and hand luggage. A third man, Yuri Harris, jumped bail and is now wanted by police. The main focus of their operation was travellers from the Middle East; the three men where caught on CCTV stealing luggage that contained watches, jewellery, credit cards and cash. The Guardian quotes Robert Colover, prosecuting, as saying: “There would be a disturbance caused by one of the defendants, followed swiftly by the surreptitious theft of high value items such as briefcases and hand luggage. The least value of the items reported stolen over the period was in excess of £70,000.” Judge Nigel Wilkinson reportedly said: “Saudi Arabian businessmen targeted by you are less likely to come here to do business in London and the image of the airport is tarnished by this sort of behaviour. It calls for deterrent sentences.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd