SINGAPORE: Two international nationals have been charged in courtroom on August 17, 2026, for separate store theft instances at Changi Airport’s transit space; one in every of them was arrested practically 9 months after the unique offence when he returned to Singapore in transit, and the opposite was stopped by Airport Police Division (APD) officers earlier than he may board his departing flight.
The Australian case
On November 19, 2025, at round 4:50 p.m., a 37-year-old Australian man took two bins of perfumes valued at roughly S$430 from a retail outlet within the transit space of Terminal 2 with out making fee. The theft was found at about 6:45 p.m. when a retail assistant observed the objects lacking from the show shelf. CCTV footage confirmed the theft, however by the point the person’s identification was established, he had already departed Singapore.
On August 4, 2026, practically 9 months later, the person returned to Changi Airport whereas in transit. APD officers, who had been monitoring the case, arrested him on the spot.
The American case
In a separate incident on August 5, 2026, a 50-year-old American man stole a field of fragrance valued at greater than S$310 from a Terminal 1 retail outlet at round 12:40 a.m. The theft was reported at 1:25 a.m. APD officers situated and arrested the person earlier than he may board his flight.
An additional assessment of CCTV footage then revealed the person had additionally stolen from two different Terminal 1 transit shops that evening: one field of perfumes valued at roughly S$170 and one bottle of fragrance tester valued at greater than S$230. All three objects, with a mixed worth exceeding S$717, have been recovered.
Fees and penalties
Each males will probably be charged with theft in dwelling underneath Part 380 of the Penal Code 1871, which carries imprisonment of as much as seven years, a effective, or each.
Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Malathi, Commander of the Airport Police Division, mentioned the instances illustrated how advances in CCTV expertise have considerably enhanced detection of store theft, and that preliminary evasion doesn’t imply escape.
“Even the place offenders initially evade detection, investigations will nonetheless result in their identification and arrest,” she mentioned. “Those that commit such crimes will probably be held accountable for his or her actions.”
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