A United Airlines customer service rep at SFO and his wife are accused of a scheme to steal the luggage of passengers whose flights were diverted following the July 6 crash of Asiana flight 214. 44-year-old Sean Crudup and his wife, 32-year-old Raychas Thomas, both of Richmond, were caught on surveillance video stealing luggage that had arrived at the airport before its owners, due to the many flight cancellations and diversions in the days following the disaster.

Thomas then allegedly took clothing from the luggage and took advantage of Nordstrom's notoriously liberal return policy to return goods at a store in Pleasanton in exchange for $5,000. Both were arrested at SFO on July 25, at which point Thomas was trying to hop a flight to Hawaii.

Crudup was arraigned Friday on grand theft charges in San Mateo County court, and he pleaded not guilty. Thomas will be arraigned next month. Both are out on bail.

[BCN/Appeal]
[KTVU]