Two bag-checkers at Gatwick helped themselves to high-tech goods worth thousands of pounds from holidaymakers' luggage.

Cousins Jose Vasconcelos, 23, and Emanuel Vasconcelos, 28, stole laptops, minidisc players and cameras.

They broke zips and locks to rummage through bags, plucking out the most expensive items - when they should have been checking for bombs.

The three-year theft operation was detected when British Airways launched undercover surveillance following a surge in complaints from passengers earlier this year.

The pair, who worked for Initial Aviation Security, were arrested after being caught on camera rifling through bags. A police operation involving 120 officers was launched on March 2. Seven people were arrested, the homes of several airport security workers were raided and goods worth up to £100,000 were seized.

Mark Bishop, prosecuting, told Crawley magistrates yesterday: "The defendants were working as vetted checkers of luggage in the North Terminal. Level three security checks consist of employees checking luggage by passing it through a screening device - a high-resolution X-ray machine - to look for dangerous items like explosives and weapons.

"British Airways was experiencing a high volume of thefts from outbound passengers in the early part of this year.

"As a consequence, the company placed covert cameras in a baggage search area in the North Terminal from the end of January to early March."

Jose Vasconcelos, of Broadfield, Crawley, pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft. His haul included a £168 digital camera, a £300 mobile phone, credit cards, a minidisc player, CDs worth £1,060, a palmtop computer and leads worth £500, and three laptop computers worth £5,000.

Mr Bishop said Vasconcelos asked for 35 other thefts, including cameras, mobile phones, electrical goods and a Cartier watch worth £1,500 to be taken into consideration.

His cousin Emanuel, of Cuckfield Close, Bewbush, pleaded guilty to stealing a £200 digital camera and asked for a further 15 thefts, including a laptop and several fake Rolex watches to also be taken in consideration.

Philip Blunden, defending, said: "It was an individual decision on his part and is something he badly regrets. On the majority of occasions, the job involves someone screening and working on their own. It was an individual rather than some form of conspiracy.

"He has two young children. He is ashamed his children will grow up with a dad that has a conviction for a matter of deception."

The raids and surveillance involved more than 120 police officers and was the biggest operation of its kind in the airport's history. Seven north terminal checkers were arrested.

Police caught baggage checker Paul Codd, 32, of Woodland Avenue, Burgess Hill, when he tried to stash a stolen camcorder worth £718.956 at a neighbour's house, the court heard.

The hearings were adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

All three men were released on unconditional bail.