Airport bag gang hits British travellers

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A gang working at Rome's Ciampino airport plundered the bags of travellers on easy-Jet and Ryanair flights heading back to Britain.

Their haul included cash, mobile phones, cameras, video recorders, cigarettes, duty free goods and designer clothes.

Police began an undercover operation at the budget airport after dozens of complaints about missing items.

The baggage handlers were filmed slashing open suitcases and helping themselves to goods. Other footage showed them storing stolen property in their lockers, while listening devices overheard the gang describe how they would sell on the stolen goods.

A police spokesman said: "The gang targeted flights to British destinations because they assumed there would be better pickings. Flights to Romania, Bulgaria and Poland were untouched."

Seven men have been charged with theft and handling stolen property.