国际英语新闻:Italian police arrest 29, investigate 57 in theft probe across airports

ROME, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Italian police arrested 29 people, including workers of the national flagship air carrier Alitalia, and put 57 under investigation on Friday in a probe into luggage theft at local airports, media reports said.

According to local prosecutors, the thefts took place onboard the aircraft during the luggage loading and unloading operations in several airports of mayor cities throughout the country including Rome, Milan, Bologna and Naples.

Audiovisual tappings were reportedly carried out, for the first time in Italy, onboard the aircraft through which it was possible to identify those responsible for more than 100 thefts, attempted thefts and damage over more than a year.

Among the arrested and investigated there were 49 workers of the Italian flagship air carrier Alitalia, employed at Rome's Fiumicino international airport.

According to media reports, Alitalia was collaborating with prosecutors in the probe. Those responsible of the thefts face penalties of up to six years in prison as well as job loss.