Cops Set Up Hot Line to Track Down Victims of Latest Sky Harbor Luggage Thief

Michael Hegstad

​If you checked a bag at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport in the last year, and something was missing from your bag when you reached your final destination, there's a chance it was stolen by the airport's latest luggage thief and cops want to know about it.

Last week, 23-year-old Michael Hegstad was arrested for stealing expensive items out of people's bags while working as a baggage handler at the airport.

Hegstad wouldn't steal the entire bag -- like Sky Harbors last luggage thieves -- he would just rifle through bags and take the most valuable stuff.


Airport cops arrested Hegstad on August 26, after they saw him take two boxes from a conveyor belt at the airport. Officers saw Hegstad remove items from the boxes and immediately took him into custody.

Hegstad admitted to stealing items, and an investigation by the Phoenix Police Department revealed that he is responsible for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of travelers' goodies.

Hegstad reportedly sold a lot of the stolen items on ebay, but police found several other items, including electronics, backpacks, and sunglasses in a storage locker at his house.

In total, police have identified more than three dozen victims, and they believe there are dozens more. That's why they've set up a hot-line for possible victims to call if they think some of their stuff was jacked by Hegstad.

So if you checked a bag at Sky Harbor in the last year and some of your stuff magically disappeared by the time you arrived at your final destination, cops want you to call this number: 602-495-7827