Man arrested for alleged thefts from Gatwick Airport passengers

Police want to speak to passengers who have experienced something similar.

Author: Lettie BuxtonPublished 28th Sep 2020

Police at Gatwick are looking to contact passengers at any UK airports who have recently been approached by a man seeking cash for what he says is his journey home.

Officers at the airport arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation on 10 September, after reports of passengers in the North Terminal being approached and asked for small amounts of cash.

There was a similar report on 31 August, according to police, after a passenger handed over £20 cash to a man described as white, in his forties, who said he was a language teacher, speaking several languages, had just arrived from Germany and needed the money for a bus fare to get home to the North of England.

The man has been released on bail until 8 October, while police continue with their enquiries.

PC Roxanne Carpenter of Sussex Police said:

"We are asking anyone who has been approached at a UK airport in a similar way recently to get in touch with us.

"You can do so online or by calling 101 Sussex, quoting serial 749 of 31/08."