On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, around 6:08 p.m. Tampa International Airport police got a call about a possibly stolen wallet on the airport's [music] transfer level. A passenger had left a green wallet on a chair with about [music] $200 in cash and several credit cards inside. When he came back, it was gone. So, officers did what you'd expect. They pulled up the surveillance cameras [music] to see exactly where it went. And guess who they saw picking it up? A man in uniform working for a company that operates inside [music] that airport every day. So, what happens when officers go looking for him? Watch this. >> How's it going? >> So, you lost a wallet? Is that what it was? Okay. So, where were you sitting? >> We were sitting over there. >> Can you show me where it was? One of my coworkers is going to look at the cameras here. >> Tell her where you were sitting. >> I think that's where he was sitting and I sat over here over there. >> Okay. >> And then I went to the bathroom a couple of times. >> Okay. >> And but it's only in this area. There's no other area it would be. >> Okay. Did you happen to check and see if it fell under any of these tables or anything? Okay. >> It's the only It's the only way it could have been in my back pocket. It's the way similar to like from my back pocket, yeah. Or I took it out and I left it on my lap or like it just >> It just like slid out when you came out, yeah. >> Or I got my phone and it fell out and it dropped somewhere. >> Okay. >> That's the only area. >> Give me just a second here. Do you know about what time? >> It was like 30 minutes ago, 20 minutes ago. >> He said 20 to 30 minutes issue ago. Um I'm going to bring you down to lost and found here and then if you guys have a couple minutes, are you flying out or >> Yeah. >> Yeah, but our flight is being delayed right now. >> Okay. Well, perfect but not. >> Yeah. >> Um so, I'll bring you down here. Uh we'll review the cameras for a couple minutes to see if we can find anything. Um if not and you guys have to go, I'll have you fill out a lost and found form. But if it does if it does happen to be stolen then I'll have you have I can't talk today. >> Um what it looks like right there. >> Okay. >> Like that. >> And if you guys want to wait out here for a couple minutes um I'll see if we can can get something found here. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. You there? >> Yes. >> Hey sir. Officer Vera. How are you? All right. Just want to start off with Do you know any reason why I would want to talk to you? >> No, not at all. >> No? Okay. So we're investigating a a stolen wallet. >> Okay. >> Here at the airport. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. You know anything like that? >> Yeah, I was retrieving a wallet and I found it and put it in my locker. >> You found a wallet? >> It was a It was a guy's uh wallet but I was going to make sure that the manager was there. >> Did you Did you notify anybody about it? >> No, I haven't noticed none of my managers. >> Okay. In that case, yep. Let's go get it. >> This is mine. >> Okay. Did you just go up to it or anything? >> Nope. >> Okay. Why didn't you notify a supervisor? >> Well, I was basically but I was busy working. This is mine. >> That's what? >> This is mine. This is >> That's yours? >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> So basically I was so busy working so I wasn't I didn't have any time so I was going to go back and forth and stuff like that so I didn't get to basically go ahead and give it to the manager. >> All right. Well, it kind of puts us in a rock and a hard place. >> Okay. >> Because you know it's in your locker, your stuff's in it but also you went >> through it. >> You opened it at least. >> Okay. >> All that. Would you be willing to come back to the station and provide a statement to us? >> I don't want to really get you write a statement in front of you. I mean >> Well, I'm trying to afford you that opportunity cuz it's just a little weird to us. >> Okay. Here you go. >> I wish you would have told a supervisor and not have ordered it then we wouldn't even be talking to you right now. >> Right. No, but I was busy. That's the whole purpose. >> What was your What's your policy on lost and found? >> We have to return it to our managers. We have to let our managers know that we have it. But I was basically walking around doing everything that I needed >> So, where did you pick it up at? >> It was over there by the It's considered the It's the It's by the Qdoba. It was on the seat. >> Mhm. >> So, I picked it up. I said, "Okay, cool." And then I was so busy running around the airport and basically helping out passengers and then when I came out I was >> Let's let's go back and just get a statement from you. >> Yeah, let's let's get a statement, man. >> We'll talk about it further down there. >> You're good. >> Let's go through these doors over here, man. >> Just have a seat up here. So, I just I need you to fill out a statement here. >> All right, copy that. >> fill out a statement at your earliest convenience. >> And before you do that, I got to read you your rights because I got to ask you a few follow-up questions and >> No problem. >> by reading you your rights, you know, I got to let you know it may elicit a criminal uh response. Okay. So, you have the right to remain silent. >> Okay. >> Do you understand these rights? >> Yep. >> Okay. Are you willing to answer any questions, make any statements without an attorney being present? >> No, not at all. >> Okay. So, you don't want to make any You don't want to make a statement. >> I mean, unless I'm being booked for something, necessarily I won't want to answer any questions, necessarily. >> Okay. >> Cuz right now it seems like you're charging me for finding something. >> No, I'm just trying to ask you questions and all that. >> Right. >> I I I can't ask you anything further. >> But, you already offered me a statement. I mean, obviously >> I'm asking you to do a statement. >> Right. I have to do a statement, but it seems like I'm If you have to read my rights, then most likely I'm also >> I want to ask you some more questions, that type of thing. >> Okay. >> But, before I do that, I got to read you your rights and you got to understand you got to be willing to cooperate, talk to me. >> Right. But, if I'm going to get questioned any further, I'd rather ask for my lawyer if I'm already If I'm charged with anything. >> Okay. Just Do you want to fill out a statement, then? >> I mean, yeah. I could just state that I found your found this wallet. >> All right. Now, what I'm going to ask you to do is stand up, turn away from me, and put your hands behind your back. Make contact with your supervisor and notify them you wouldn't even be in this position right now. >> Yeah, but I'm I was like your managers. I mean, I'm not I'm not mad at the situation and stuff stuff like that. I didn't do anything necessary. All I did was retrieve it. >> Mhm, but if I'm busy it's in your possession and somebody reported it stolen and your stuff is in it. >> It's stolen, but it's it's not I didn't steal anything. I mean, I was working, so I didn't have the chance to give it to my managers. >> Then [clears throat] also is that the information desk is right there on the transfer level and you could have handed it to them or somebody else and been like, "I found this wallet. Um, here it is." And then obviously you were on break. So, we know you took your break and you didn't hand it in at that time. >> No, I just I have a short I have a short concentration, so I basically was running around. >> Everything is going to go in the property and that's why >> No, you're good. That's >> All right. I just turn Can you open your mouth? All right. Tongue out. Okay. >> I just want to make sure >> 10-39 10-15. >> Yeah. So, it'll be in our lost and found office here. So, when you get released you can come to the lost and found and it'll be on in our storage. >> So, how will my manager know if I'm being booked or anything? >> We're going to make contact with them and let them know. All right. >> Yeah, but this is I mean, what's what's what am I going to be in charge for? >> It's going to just be petty theft. >> Petty theft? >> Yep. >> And even if the associate even if the man even if the customer or the client finds it, then I'm still I'm I'm still going to be charged with petty theft? So, if they go to court and they charge and they say they >> It's in your possession, man. They reported it stolen and you didn't report it. You didn't grab it. You just failed to report it. >> I get it. Yeah, that's the whole situation. I understand that I'm not like a criminal in a sense. I'm not I'm being booked for petty theft, but I mean I just want to make sure my stuff is straight. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, cuz there's an extra set of keys in our office up here. >> Okay. All right. >> Once you get back, just go to the locked and found. I don't have it. >> Oh, that's all right. That's mine. That's the money. >> Yeah, this is all She's going to take care of all that, all right? >> You said that's the managers? >> No. >> Those are the keys to the managers. >> Uh-huh. That's my key. >> a personal phone there? >> That's my personal cell phone. Those are my personal headphones. That's my personal uh a a paper. >> The phone can go with him, right? >> Yeah, so the phone can go with him. >> So if you want, you can bring that phone with him. So this goes to your manager. >> No, the Motorola AT&T Curve Curacao, that goes to the managers. >> Okay. >> Everything else, the keys, that, that The keys are personal, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you. And the Bluetooth headphones and my appointment is mine. >> Um that actually probably it's all small stuff. No, that can go. >> Of course, right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right, we'll just >> Um This phone is yours. >> That's not That's not my phone. This is my phone. That's their phones. >> That's my phone. >> That's your $10. >> That's their stuff. That's their stuff. >> This is >> That's mine. That's mine. That's mine. That's $10 is mine. >> Yeah, this will come with you cuz it's all small stuff, so they'll they'll take it there. And but this has to go back to your manager. >> Yes, ma'am. That's their That's their items. >> Okay. There should be like a paper bag in the cabinet. >> So I'm going to Hillsborough County Jail for petty theft? >> You will be going to Orient Road for to booking. So the judge will decide what then. Do you need this stuff? >> No, that's just work. That's items for work. >> Do you Do you want to leave the desk here? >> Yeah, leave the desk here, then, please. I don't want to look like I'm No, dude, it's not that. I mean, I honestly made the mistake this one I giving the giving the wallet, but honestly I I'll say like my managers >> Okay. >> My managers, even when I'm running around and doing stuff, and I just get lost cuz I get so many >> Wait, don't >> so many so many associates, so many clients, so many people in my business and stuff like that. So, >> You're good. >> So, that was my mistake. I was like, "Okay, let me just go ahead and do this. Let me do I'm being constantly pulled from one quarter to one quarter to the one quarter to the garages and stuff like >> Maybe in the future make it a common practice if you do pick up something. >> Yeah, no. >> Especially >> I don't even want to pick up anything. I was like, I saw it. I was like, "Okay." My whole thing was the simple fact that I said after I work for ABM, I'm supposed to pick up lost and found items. So, I picked it up. That's the only mistake that I didn't make. 10 minutes to the manager. So, that's it. A day, a week in jail, and I'm gone. >> So, this is the wallet. >> Mhm. >> All right. Just have a seat right there. >> You got nothing else on you or anything like that that I missed? >> You're not going to find anything. >> Cuz I don't want you to get another charge, man. That's all. >> Just trust me. You going to my wallet, bro? There's nothing in it. >> You got nothing at all? >> No. No. Look. Look. All right. Look. All >> Um just check his shoes. So, I'm going to have you just take your shoes off a second. >> You want to untie them? >> Yeah, appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. >> Makes it so much easier when you guys cooperate. >> I'm going to give it a little bit more. >> With Eloy now secured in the back of the patrol car, let's go back through what he told officers and compare it with what's actually in the report because a few things didn't quite line up. >> I didn't steal anything. I mean, I was working, so I didn't have the chance to get it to my managers. So, I don't know. So, I picked it up. That's the only mistake that I didn't make was >> He said it more than once. He didn't steal anything. He just picked it up. That's basically what he wrote in his sworn statement, too. He said he found a green wallet with money near the elevator, retrieved it, and wasn't able to give it to his manager. But, here's the problem. According to the report, surveillance showed him with the wallet just after 5:00 that afternoon. He wasn't arrested until just before midnight. That gave him hours and even a lunch break to turn it in. The officer also asked him what company policy says to do with found property. His answer, notify a supervisor. Then, he admitted he never did. And the wallet? Well, you already saw where that ended up. That's number one. Now, here's number two. When Eloy handed the wallet over, the officer says he reached straight inside, pulled toward a folded piece of paper, and said, "That's mine." The officer noted that as a sign, Eloy had already been inside the wallet. So, does that match the story that he simply picked it up and never did anything with it? If you caught anything else that doesn't add up, drop it in the comments and let's talk it through. As always, we are not here to judge anyone as a person. We're looking at what the camera captured and the choices made in that moment. So, please keep the discussion civil. Now, let's follow him out of the building. >> When you found the This is a wallet, but Do this. Do this. Do this. >> He's like, "Yo, everything is going crazy." When you found the wallet and stolen, you said, "Yeah, I did. I found it." I was over there helping the lady. I was like, "Oh, yeah, I forgot." Something to say. They're not going to go, "Oh, yeah, petty theft." Yo, I'm for arresting you on a $65,000 bond. He said, "I got tired, bro." I'm like, "I'm not even doing it." Black man, right? You ain't got like Like Yeah, I found it. Oh, okay. Yeah. The money's still in the pocket. but just put my stuff in it just to make sure that you guys So they thought he was going to leave with it. So they tried to catch him. Is it your locker? Technically, they wasn't even able to go in there. He was saying but they did. All the managers said, "Well, you got a locker for it." That's why I just said it makes sense like your way. So if I find it and it's my possession, I forget to give it to you, it's my problem. What? I don't feel like taking me to the court. This is crazy. So what was the story behind the whole thing? The wallet. >> What did you say? >> What was the whole story behind the whole wallet situation? >> Um >> So you guys had to go over to the location and say, "Hey, somebody reported it stolen." So my manager showed you guys the videos and then you guys came and approached me. >> No, we we watched the videos ourselves so we can see everything on it and then we figured out where >> So when a person says, "Oh, my stuff is stolen." he just reports it and say, "Hey, this is where I left it." >> Yeah, so then we went and looked and there was >> And you saw me. They going to put me on probation. I got to find another job. No. I'm out of here. Y'all would have found a gun then I'd have been like, "Oh my god." I'd have been like, "Shit, oh snap." But okay, so let's consider like what it is in the the laws of Florida. You're guilty till proven innocent or innocent till proven guilty. You guys have a system where you could be able to track and see if there's anybody else has a warrant cuz you're the police. You got me. So I'm not a bad guy. You know you guys Even when you look, you know that you I didn't have a warrant. So. >> I have no idea. >> All right, girl. I was just making sure you ain't got it. I'm good. No, no, you're good. You're good. All right, that's all right. I said, "Take that ticket and give my stuff back." I'm not doing this. I ain't playing. Wow, this is disrespectful. Some people just crazy, you see? And then he still gets charged with the stolen I just had to say, "What?" >> In the end, 36-year-old Eloy Amaya Villa of was arrested and taken to the Hillsborough County Orient Road Jail facing one charge of first degree petty theft a misdemeanor under Florida law. The wallet was recovered from his work locker and the money it was still there too. $181.80 which officers logged into evidence locker number nine before returning it to the passenger it belonged to.