The theft occurred in Terminal 4 on Wednesday morning, when Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Julio Perez, who was undercover, saw the man “acting suspiciously in the baggage claim area,” Airport Police spokesman Rob Pedregon said.
Perez watched the man remove a blue duffle bag from the baggage carousel and walk out of the terminal, and he followed him, Pedregon said.
“The suspect … took a circuitous route to Terminal 6, constantly looking behind him to see if he was being followed,” Pedregon said. “Officer Perez then stopped the suspect and conducted an investigation. The investigation revealed that the suspect had taken the bag and was attempting to leave the airport.”
The 31-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was booked on suspicion of grand theft.
The bag was returned to its owner, who was from Georgia, Pedregon said.