Men bailed after Gatwick arrests

The bailed men work for a security firm used at the airport

Eight people arrested on suspicion of stealing from passengers' bags at Gatwick Airport have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Two people were arrested at the Sussex airport's North Terminal on Thursday morning with six more arrested at addresses in nearby Crawley.

Police said £50,000 worth of items were recovered in the year-long operation, including 30 laptop computers.

The men work for Initial Security, a firm used at the airport.

Property recovered

Sussex Police said the arrests followed a joint operation between the force, airport operator BAA and the Department for Transport.

The men, six from Crawley and two from Redhill in Surrey, were arrested just after 0800 GMT on Thursday and were being held in custody at Crawley police station.

Police said the £50,000 worth of property recovered also included more than 30 mobile phones, four digital and video cameras and a number of watches and CDs.

The two men from Redhill are aged 44 and 39, while five of the Crawley men are aged 42, 24, 26, 23 and 34, with the sixth aged in his 30s.

Initial Security is a firm contracted by airlines to carry out baggage screening in the North Terminal.

Sussex Police have appealed for any passengers who may have had property go missing, but who have not reported it, to contact them.

The passengers will have taken flights departing from the North Terminal during the last 12 months.