Thieves Discover JFK Airport Workers Beat Them To The Crime

This, frankly, is the kind of story we just couldn't make up. Three baggage handlers for American Airlines face criminal charges, after they allegedly hatched a plan to steal a suitcase laden with expensive jewelry last month at San Francisco International.

Adding to the trio's woes is the fact their counterparts across the country, at New York's Kennedy International Airport, seemingly beat them to the punch.

It all started August 25, when baggage handler Angelo Riviello noticed a suitcase he was loading onto American Airlines Flight 201 to Los Angeles was particularly heavy. Officials say the man told his co-workers, "I think I have a good find."

According to court documents, Riviello called over his supervisor, Albert Acevedo... who proceeded to open the bag, and started removing envelopes filled with expensive jewelry and other valuables.

"I made a good find today!" Acevedo allegedly told his coworkers, reports The North County Gazette. "These rings add up to $1,000."

That proved to be an extremely lowball figure. Between the two of them, Acevedo and Riviello pilfered approximately $280,000 in diamonds and gold from the suitcase, owned by Manhattan jeweler David Diamond.

Both men were arrested August 29, charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. They're due to appear in court on September 30, and face as many as 15 years in prison.

But the story doesn't end there.

The New York Daily News reports three workers with Air Serv, contracted to handle American Airlines bags at SFO, also took note of the noticeably lighter -- but still heavy -- suitcase when they came across it, and decided to steal it for themselves.

May Frances Escario, 22, Sula Fafotu, 24, and Roberto Lopez, 27 allegedly hatched a plan for one of them to pose as Diamond, so they could claim the bag before the real Diamond could. The ruse worked... and they were able to make off with the remaining loot.

Alas, the crooks apparently weren't all-that bright. 33-year-old Nestor Reyes, the boyfriend of one of the SFO perps, was arrested the next morning as he wheeled the bag out of his apartment, still loaded with over $200,000 in valuables.

Authorities rounded up the gang of three last Thursday (it took that long??? -- Ed.) on charges of thievery, and attempting to pawn off the ill-begotten goods.

And to think, we try to avoid putting our laptop computers in checked luggage.

After this story, it seems if you have any valuables that must travel via airlines... you may be safer sending those baubles via UPS or FedEx. Or carrier pigeon.

FMI: www.aa.com, www.airserv.org, www.davidsdiamonds.com/