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STSOs Thwart Theft

News & Happenings

March 10, 2008

Supervisory TSO Ed Watkins (left), Maryland Aviation Authority Police Officer C. Carter and Supervisory TSO Tyrone Patterson.
Supervisory TSO Ed Watkins (left),
Maryland Aviation Authority Police
Officer C. Carter and Supervisory
TSO Tyrone Patterson.

Supervisory Transportation Security Officer Tyrone Patterson was recently approached by a couple at a Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, distraught that their trip might be over before it began. They told Patterson they had placed a wallet - with $1,000 cash and credit cards inside - in a gray bin at the checkpoint, only to find the wallet missing when they went to retrieve it.

Patterson and Supervisory TSO Ed Watkins quickly alerted Maryland Aviation Authority Police with a description of two possible suspects. An airport service worker said the possible suspects had entered a stall in a restroom in Pier B. Watkins and a police officer dug through a nearby trash can and immediately discovered the wallet - minus the cash.

Minutes later, the suspects were found casually waiting for their flight. They turned over the money and each was charged with theft over $500. One suspect was also charged with possessing a fraudulent driver's license and giving a false name to police.

"This event is representative of the great teamwork we have ... ," said Federal Security Director James Schear. "TSA, the Aviation Authority and the transportation police worked as one team to prevent this crime and return the passenger's belongings."