Crime & Safety

iJacked: Kindles, iPads Stolen From Airplanes at Lambert

Four women were charged last week in connection with the thefts in 2011.

Four women who cleaned airplanes at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport face criminal charges for iPad and iPod thefts from flights in 2011. The women stole or received at least six iPads, two iPods and six ebook readers, according to court documents.

During the thefts, all four women worked for ABM Janitorial Services, a contractor responsible for cleaning Southwest Airline planes at Lambert.

  • Rachel Doss, 28, of the 1200 block of Marquis Court in Bellefontaine Neighbors, was charged with felony stealing and receiving stolen property.

Police said she stole an iPad valued at $909 between 9 p.m. Nov. 5 and 12:30 a.m. Nov. 6 from the Airport Operations area at Lambert.

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Police said they found one Nook and five Kindle ebook readers valued at $1,309 at Doss’ residence. The items had been stolen from airplanes, according to a police report.

  • Lawanda Barnes, 27, of the 8800 block of Torii Drive in Bel-Ridge, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property.

Lambert Airport Police said in a statement that an iPad valued at $500 and an iPod valued at $350 that had been stolen from a plane were found at Barnes' residence. The report also said she pawned another iPad valued at $1,000. The items were stolen between Sept. 22, and Oct. 31, 2011.

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  • Tiffany Barnes, 25, also of the 8800 block of Torii Drive in Bel-Ridge, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property. Police said she pawned two iPads and an iPod.
  • Ashley Glen, 48, of East St. Louis, was charged Aug. 7 with one count of receiving stolen property. According to a police report, she told Lambert Airport Police she received an iPad from a co-worker who asked her to pawn it.

Bonds were set at $15,000 each for Doss, Lawanda and Tiffany Barnes and at $10,000 for Glen.


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