Man Poses As Custodian; Breaches LAX Airport Security

LOS ANGELES, CA —Authorities on Monday circulated security images of a man who posed as a custodian to get past Los Angeles International Airport security and enter the airfield.

The breach occurred in the early morning hours of May 18, according to the Los Angeles Police Department's LAX Crime Task Force. The man entered a restricted area of the airport at about 1:10 a.m. and managed to get to the airfield before someone called him out.

"The suspect posed as a custodial worker to pass through security, then changed clothes before entering the airfield," according to an LAPD statement. "When confronted, the suspect fled on foot by climbing an airfield fence to escape."

According to investigators, the man was described as about 25, "light-skinned," 6 feet tall and 165 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket with gray stripes on the arms and the number 84 on the front left chest area; a yellow work vest, blue jeans, a checkered blue flannel long-sleeve shirt and black shoes with a white stripe on them.

Authorities did not say what the suspect did while in the airport's restricted area, and they did not publicly identify a suspected motive for the breach.

Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is asked to call LAX Crime Task Force detectives at 424-750-0912 or 310-908-7438; 877-LAPD- 247; or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.