TSA agent arrested for stealing from passengers

July 8, 2011

Police arrested a TSA agent accused of stealing electronic devices from passengers and stuffing them down his pants before putting them up for sale online. [Broward/Palm Beach New Times]

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said 30-year-old Nelson Santiago allegedly stole around $50,000 worth of electronics over a six-month period while processing passengers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s Terminal 1.

A Continental Airlines employee caught Santiago taking an iPad out of a passenger’s luggage and stuffing it into his pants, police said. Santiago has worked as a TSA officer since 2009.

He was arrested on two counts of grand theft on Monday. Police said he admitted to stealing computers, GPS devices, video cameras, and other electronic gear from luggage that he was supposed to be screening.

Police said he would immediately take pictures of the stolen goods, upload the images online and sell the stolen merchandise. Much of it would be sold before his shift ended, according to police.


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I hpoe this doesn’t put a bad light on the TSA. Imagine a world where everyone had nail clippers.


TSA motto:Confiscating toenail clippers to keep America safe from terrorist toenails!


I might have bought something from him. I was getting ready to send it back. I wondered what that flight sticker on it meant. Oh well I got it at a cheap price. Maybe I can resell it. Any buyers out there for a slightly used computer. Guess I will have to get my money back at the jail.


Stealing is wrong and against the law, regardless if you are a public servant, lawyer or politician…


Should have put some of it between his ears, lots of space there also.


Ah, the terrorist within.


I love the fact that this article about a TSA agent stealing electronic devices by stuffing them down his pants was filed in the “Daily Briefs” column. LOL.