Luis Arellano-Corrales, 30, of Paterson, is accused of working with a trio of thieves to steal a woman's bag with more than $13,000 in jewelry and cash inside from the Boston airport in February 2022, the Suffolk County District Attorney said.
It wasn't exactly an "Ocean's 11" style heist, but it took some coordination to pull off, authorities said. Three men worked as a team to swipe the bag before rushing out to Arellano-Corrales, who was waiting outside in a running Buick to whisk them away, police said.
Surveillance video caught the theft in action, and police tracked down Arellano-Corrales through his license plate to arrest him last month, authorities said. Investigators put out an alert about the crew and quickly heard back from a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey detective who was aware of them and their work at New Jersey and New York airports, officials said.
The trio is believed to have been involved in a baggage theft at JFK Airport in New York in January 2022 worth more than $22,000, the prosecutor said.
Police have not caught the three men who allegedly worked with Arellano-Corrales, officials said.
“This group is adept at communicating with each other and using distraction techniques to target unsuspecting travelers and then make a quick escape," Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. "Their activities provide a good reminder for everyone to never leave valuables unattended or out of sight, even for a moment."
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