Two baggage handlers were arrested after a traveler reported that a Patek Philippe watch was missing from checked luggage at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The arrests relate to an allegation, not a finding of guilt; the watch’s recovery and the case’s final outcome have not been established in the reporting available.
What was reported about the missing watch
NDTV reported that on September 24, 2026, a traveler arriving in New Orleans on a morning flight from Los Angeles found the zippers on both locked suitcases forced open. The traveler said a Patek Philippe Aquanaut had been placed inside a pair of shoes in the checked luggage. The watch was reported missing and valued at $79,050, according to NDTV’s October 5 account. NDTV
The exact model identification should be treated as attributed reporting: another secondary account described the watch as a Nautilus. The airline and any reference number for the watch were not identified in the reports summarized here.
What is known about the arrests and allegation
According to NDTV, investigators reviewed airport surveillance footage and identified two baggage handlers reportedly working for the airline the passenger had used: Thaddeus Porter, 42, and Morris Robinson, 18. Both were reportedly arrested later on September 24 and booked on a felony theft allegation involving property valued at more than $25,000. That alleged charge category is not a finding that the watch’s value or the defendants’ guilt has been proven.
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An arrest and charge are not proof of guilt. The reports describe an accusation; they do not establish what the surveillance footage shows or whether either defendant committed the alleged theft.
Bond and reported court date
People, in a report republished by AOL on October 6, said each defendant posted $25,000 bond on September 25 and was scheduled to appear in court on November 23, 2026. Court dates can change, and that schedule should not be treated as current without checking the docket. The Jefferson Parish court site provides information on searching criminal records and dockets, but the specific case record was not independently retrieved for this report. People via AOL · Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court
Was the Patek Philippe recovered?
The reporting cited here does not establish whether the watch was recovered, nor does it establish a conviction or final case outcome. NDTV said authorities had not publicly stated whether the watch had been found.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What travelers should do with valuables
People relayed TSA guidance for valuables such as jewelry: “please keep those items with you at all times.” For a watch or other valuable, that means keeping it in your personal item or carry-on rather than placing it in checked luggage. A carry-on can make it easier to keep valuables accessible, but no bag or lock can be said to have prevented the incident described here.
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