An American Eagle airlines employee has been arrested on suspicion of stealing jewelry from passenger bags at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
At the time of his arrest last Friday, the employee was found to have a silver bracelet, silver earrings, silver "Hard Rock" bracelet, a gold heart-shaped diamond pendant and a pair of new Oakley Whisker sunglasses in his backpack.
The 44-year-old employee denied taking the jewelry, claiming he got the pendant from an aircraft but he forgot to turn it in, according to airport police reports.
Airport investigators discovered that the employee had pawned 94 items in the past year, 93 of them jewelry items, earning him $10,320.
The employee was identified as Jose Alberto Peralta, 44. He faces charges of theft $50 to $500 and tampering with a government record.
Authorities began their investigation of the alleged thefts last week after receiving an anonymous tip that an employee was stealing from passenger bags.
Peralta has denied stealing jewelry, telling investigators that he had brought the jewelry from his home in the Dominican Republic to sell here in the United States because the price of gold is higher, according to airport police reports.
Along with the theft charge, Peralta is accused of using two different dates of birth for an airport security badge. Airport police arrested Peralta.
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