Los Angeles International Airport Employees Accused Of Stealing Celebrity Property

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The City Attorney's Office is expected to file misdemeanor theft charges against a group of screeners at Los Angeles International Airport suspected of stealing personal items from

Friday, March 23rd 2007, 9:53 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The City Attorney's Office is expected to file misdemeanor theft charges against a group of screeners at Los Angeles International Airport suspected of stealing personal items from celebrities and other travelers.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's office announced Thursday they will file cases against 10 airport employees and one transient. Eight of the accused workers were airport screeners who have been dismissed from their jobs, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The alleged victims include hotel heiress Paris Hilton and singer Keyshia Cole, said Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for the attorney's office. Pilfered items include cartons of cigarettes, watches and jewelry, the newspaper said.

Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, said his client was not aware of the charges and had no comment.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which employs the screeners, played a key role in the investigation. The TSA has been trying to crack down on theft by airport employees, Velasquez told the newspaper.