Chinese national arrested after plane passenger sees him taking her husband's bag from overhead compartment
A 25-year-old Chinese national was arrested for theft on board an aircraft flying from Dubai to Singapore on the day before National Day.
The police were alerted to the case on Aug 8 at about 5.30am.
Preliminary investigations revealed that while a passenger was asleep, his wife saw the suspect purportedly take the passenger's bag stored in the overhead compartment.
The wife questioned the suspect, prompting him to return the bag to the overhead compartment. She then told her husband what happened.
After the aircraft landed at Changi Airport, the suspect was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions to officers from Airport Police Division.
He was subsequently arrested before he could depart for his next scheduled flight.
The man will be charged in court on Aug 10 with theft, which carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine or both.
Police advise adopting the following crime prevention measures:
- Keep your cash or valuables with you at all times instead of placing them inside the overhead luggage compartments.
- Be wary and keep a lookout for passengers who are seen opening up overhead compartments and retrieving baggage and rummaging through them during the flight.
- Alert the cabin crew immediately of such suspicious behaviour.
