Denver police have arrested a United Airlines customer service agent at Denver International Airport who is suspected of stealing a cosmetic case containing $129,000 worth of jewelry after it fell from a traveler’s suitcase.
Christine Ferer arrived at DIA on an Aug. 8 United flight from Aspen and discovered that the case, which contained diamond earrings worth $35,000 and other expensive jewelry, had fallen from her suitcase, according to a search warrant.
She contacted Aspen-Pitkin County Airport and was told the case had been found and was put on a flight to Denver.
Denver police didn’t find the case at a gate where the flight arrived, so officers reviewed security camera footage from the area on Aug. 11.
“Magana is seen wrapping the cosmetic case in printer paper. He leaves and then returns with a brown paper bag,” according to the arrest warrant.
“Rafael Magana is seen picking up the item … sliding the cosmetic case into the brown paper bag. Rafael Magana picks up his phones, water bottle and brown paper bag as he leaves the customer service desk.”
Police arrested Magana later that day. Officers recovered the cosmetic case — and its glittering contents — at his home, the arrest warrant says.
