A covert police operation at Luton Airport has resulted in two former cleaners being handed custodial sentences for stealing from passengers’ luggage. The two men were caught after hidden cameras were installed by the police in a closed-off room through which bags have to travel before moving onto the luggage belt.

Footage from the cameras revealed that the two men were opening luggage and taking items before the bags went onto the main carousel in the baggage reclaim area. The pair were arrested in February.

According to Bedford Police, both men have been handed custodial sentences by Luton Crown Court. Since the arrests, Luton Airport claims that baggage pilferage has dropped by around 77 per cent.

Sergeant Steve Farrer, a member of the London Luton Airport Safer Neighbourhood Team, said that passengers at Luton should feel confident that the security of their possessions is taken extremely seriously. He added that the sentence handed to the two former cleaners sent out a very clear message that stealing would not be tolerated.

Sergeant Farrer also advised all travellers to ensure that their luggage was securely locked and that any valuables be kept in a passenger’s hand luggage. He went on to say that the average number of pilferages reported at the airport was seven every month and that this number was a very small percentage of the amount of luggage 700,000 passengers bring to the airport each month.

A Luton Airport spokeswoman said that the airport was pleased that the matter was concluded, but refused to comment further.