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Agents from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office arrested a man accused of repeatedly stealing luggage from travelers at Miami International Airport (MIA) over several days during the peak travel season for the holidays, authorities reported.
According to the outlet Local 10 News, the arrested individual faces five counts of grand theft. The suspect has been identified as Darryl Elliott Clayton, 22 years old, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama.
Authorities indicated that he was arrested on December 25th, Christmas Day.
According to arrest reports, between Saturday and Tuesday, Clayton allegedly repeatedly targeted arriving passengers at the airport and is said to have stolen suitcases directly from the baggage claim.
On some occasions, the agents report, he acted with an unidentified accomplice.
According to the report, the accused took the luggage to the airport restrooms, where he removed valuable items and then left the baggage behind.
Authorities stated that Clayton was identified through surveillance videos.
He was subsequently found on Thursday at the airport car rental center, wearing "the same gray sweatshirt, with a gold chain and a cross around his neck" as seen in the recordings, according to the agents.
Clayton appeared before a judge in Miami-Dade on Friday morning. The magistrate ordered that he remain in custody with a bail of $7,500 and prohibited him from returning to Miami International Airport.
Until the afternoon of that Friday, jail records cited in the report indicated that the defendant remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
This new case adds to a series of similar incidents at the airport terminal, raising concerns about the internal security of the airport during holiday periods, when passenger volume significantly increases.
This December 25, 2025, coinciding with Christmas Day, an employee of Miami International Airport was arrested for participating in luggage thefts during the peak travel season.
The worker allegedly took advantage of his access to restricted areas to steal valuable items from the bags, using the restrooms of the facility as a place to empty them.
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