A 16-year-old Uzbekistan national allegedly stole more than S$4,800 worth of items from six shops in Changi Airport’s transit area.
His 39-year-old mother was also arrested and is accused of a separate theft. Both are due to be charged in court on Wednesday, 16 September.
3 Missing Pairs of Sunglasses Led Police to Teen
The case came to light on 28 August, when police were alerted to a suspected shop theft at a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 6.46pm.
According to police, a retail assistant discovered that three pairs of sunglasses had disappeared from a display shelf.
CCTV footage allegedly showed the teenager taking the three pairs at around 6.28pm and leaving the shop without paying. The sunglasses were worth about S$1,460 in total.
Officers from the Airport Police Division subsequently located the teenager and his mother before they could leave Singapore.
Police recovered the three pairs of sunglasses as well as other items suspected to have been stolen.
Police Say Teen Allegedly Stole From 6 Shops
Further investigations found that the 16-year-old had allegedly taken various items worth more than S$4,800 from six shops in Changi Airport’s transit area.
He is expected to face six counts of theft in dwelling.
His mother is accused of separately taking a box of perfume worth S$149.90.
Police also allege that she received one of the pairs of sunglasses that had been stolen by her son.
The 39-year-old is expected to face one count of theft in dwelling and one count of receiving stolen property.
Neither has been convicted, and the allegations will be dealt with in court.
What Does “Theft in Dwelling” Mean?
Despite the name, “theft in dwelling” does not apply only to somebody stealing from a person’s home.
Section 380 of Singapore’s Penal Code covers theft from a building, tent or vessel used either as a human dwelling or for keeping property. The offence carries imprisonment of up to seven years, with the offender also liable to a fine.
Receiving or retaining property while knowing or having reason to believe it is stolen is an offence under Section 411 of the Penal Code. It carries up to five years’ jail, a fine, or both.
