A 38-year-old Indian man has been arrested in Singapore for allegedly stealing items worth approximately ₹3.5 lakh from 14 different shops at Jewel Changi Airport and the transit area of Changi Airport, just before boarding his flight and leaving the country. The incident has drawn significant attention due to both the scale and boldness of the theft.
According to a press release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on July 23, the thefts occurred on May 29. The suspect, who has not been named publicly, is said to have walked through multiple retail outlets within the airport, discreetly taking bags, cosmetics, and perfumes without paying, before casually boarding his outbound flight.
The case began to unravel when a retail supervisor at one of the airport’s shops noticed a missing bag during a routine stock-taking exercise. The store immediately reported the loss to the police at around 4:28 p.m. on May 29. Authorities reviewed the store’s CCTV footage and were able to identify the suspect on camera, clearly seen taking the bag and leaving the shop without making a purchase.
Upon further investigation, police discovered that the same individual had allegedly stolen items from a total of 14 shops within the airport premises. However, by the time authorities identified him, the man had already departed Singapore.
His luck ran out when he returned to Singapore on June 1, just days after the theft. Officers from the Airport Police Division intercepted him during transit and conducted a thorough check of his belongings. Inside his luggage, they found multiple items that matched the reported stolen goods — including luxury bags, perfumes, and other cosmetics — which he was unable to account for.
The case serves as a reminder of the robust surveillance and security systems in place at Singapore’s Changi Airport, one of the busiest and most advanced airports in the world. The man is now facing serious theft charges, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if he had any accomplices or prior offenses.
