PHEONIX, Arizona (NBC) -- Police arrested two people Monday on suspicion of stealing at least 1,000 pieces of luggage from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Keith King, 61, and Stacy Legg King, 38, were each booked on counts of theft of property and possession of stolen property. Stacy King was also arrested on suspicion of “evidence of tampering,” police said. It’s not immediately clear the relationship between the two.
About three weeks ago, a Phoenix police officer apparently saw Keith King enter the airport from outside and take a piece a luggage from a baggage claim carousel. He was arrested in the parking lot a short time later when police determined the luggage wasn't his.
Police allege that after Keith was released, he returned to the airport and stole more luggage. Authorities followed him home, where he was detained.
Police say the do not know how long the thefts have been going on, how many times the thieves have struck, and whether there were other people involved. Keith King does not work at the airport, authorities said.
A search warrant of the Kings' home in Waddell in the northwest Valley reportedly revealed many suitcases, some empty and some with property still in them.
Police said they plan to return as much material as possible, but it would be difficult to identify the victims of the luggage theft because all the tags had been removed from the suitcases.
Eugene Huneycutt, 66, a neighbor, said he has bought 35 to 40 children videos for his granddaughter at yard sales at the Kings' home and became suspicious about how Keith King would possess the items.
Huneycutt said he also saw a lot of pieces of luggage at the sales.
Neighbors reported seeing a trailer full of material arriving at the home in the middle of the night, which they described as suspicious.
