Passenger may face petty theft charge for picking up security bag containing fake grenade The Associated Press 12/17/01 11:58 PM SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Authorities said Monday a passenger might face a petty theft charge for walking off with an airport security screener's bag, which contained a dummy hand grenade that fell out and rolled down the aisle of a jet. Lolita Austria, 57, of Rochester, N.Y., carried the bag away from a security checkpoint at the San Diego airport on Sunday moments after the fake grenade had been used in a security test. She told The San Diego Union-Tribune she picked up the bag by mistake. Sgt. Chuck Marks of the San Diego Harbor Police had said there was no evidence Austria knew the grenade was in the bag, which also contained a sweater. But later Monday night, Harbor police Sgt. John Forsythe said she could be charged for taking the bag. "We'll look at the merits of case," Forsythe said. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Austria on Monday were unsuccessful. Her home number was unlisted and police wouldn't disclose her whereabouts. After boarding American Airlines Flight 788, Austria pulled the shirt out of the bag and saw the grenade. She "began to panic and alerted flight personnel that the item was not hers," authorities said. The grenade then rolled onto the floor. The Chicago-bound flight sat for more than three hours on the runway while crews came to the scene. All 108 passengers were taken off the aircraft and rescreened before the plane left.