NJ man charged in Logan airport luggage theft ring faces judge – Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (WHDH) — A New Jersey man accused of being the driver of a pickpocketing ring targeting Logan International Airport and other flight centers in the Northeast is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in East Boston’s Boston Municipal Court on Wednesday His arrest appearance and arraignment last month, announced District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Luis Arellano-Corrales, 30, of Paterson, was charged December 15 in Boston Municipal Court in East Boston with subsequent aiding and abetting and conspiracy. Judge John McDonald set bail at $15,000 and ordered Arellano-Corrales to stay away from Logan Airport and to call in for parole once a week.

The charges against Arellano-Corrales followed a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police that was sparked by the theft of a woman’s purse in Terminal E on February 26, 2022, when the victim was weighing her bags. The purse contained $13,415 worth of jewelry, cash and other items. Surveillance video showed three male suspects working together to steal the bag.

Police officers found the trio exiting the terminal in a 2020 Buick driven by Arellano-Corrales and further obtained the Buick’s license plate and identified Arellano-Corrales as the vehicle’s owner. After issuing a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) alert, investigators received a response from a detective with the Port of New York and New Jersey familiar with the group’s activities at New York and New Jersey airports. Police officers obtained an arrest warrant for Arellano-Corrales. He was arrested in New Jersey and waived transfer in order to be taken back to Massachusetts. The other suspects are wanted.

The group is suspected of a January 2022 luggage theft at JFK International Airport for over $22,000.

“This group is adept at communicating with each other and using distraction techniques to attack unsuspecting travelers and then quickly escape. Their activities are a good reminder for everyone to never leave valuables unattended or out of sight, even for a moment,” Hayden said in a statement.

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