A 30-year-old Indonesian man faces charges of theft and cheating after allegedly stealing a wallet on a Singapore-bound flight and making unauthorized purchases at Changi Airport, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced on 26 March.
In-Flight Theft Leads to Airport Shopping Spree
The incident occurred on 16 March when the suspect allegedly stole a wallet from a female passenger he knew while onboard a flight to Singapore.
The victim had placed her wallet inside her handbag, which was stored in the same overhead compartment as the suspect’s belongings.
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Upon landing, the woman received notifications on her banking app informing her of unauthorized transactions made with her debit card at retail outlets in Changi Airport’s transit area.
She contacted the police at approximately 4.55am that morning to report the incident.
Swift Police Response Results in Arrest Within One Hour
Officers from the Airport Police Division quickly established the identity of the suspect through ground inquiries and CCTV footage reviews. They arrested him within one hour of receiving the report, before he could leave Singapore.
Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi, commander of the Airport Police Division, noted it was fortunate the passenger had enabled notifications on her banking app, allowing her to quickly report the unauthorized transactions.
The 30-year-old man will face charges in court on 27 March. If found guilty of theft, he may be sentenced to up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. The cheating offense carries a more severe penalty of up to 10 years’ jail and a fine.
SPF emphasized they have “zero tolerance” for acts of theft on board aircraft and reminded passengers to take crime prevention measures.
These include keeping cash or valuables on their person at all times rather than storing them in overhead luggage compartments and staying alert for suspicious activity during flights.
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