Chinese national charged for stealing $750 cash and bank cards from plane passenger, cabin crew member lauded for vigilance
A 50-year-old Chinese national was charged on March 11 for his suspected involvement in a case of theft onboard an aircraft.
The police were alerted on Oct 2, 2025, to the incident that occurred on a flight from Singapore to Jakarta.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man left his assigned seat, walked several rows ahead and allegedly removed a victim's bag, which was stored in the overhead compartment of the aircraft.
He then purportedly carried the bag back to his seat, rummaged through the contents of the bag and took cash of $750 and three bank cards from the victim's wallet before returning the bag to its original location.
"The man's unusual movement and suspicious behaviour caught the attention of a cabin crew member, who then alerted the victim to check his belongings," said the police in a news release.
When the victim checked his bag, he discovered that his cash and cards were missing.
The cabin crew immediately informed the flight captain and the matter was reported to the Indonesian authorities.
The missing cash and cards were found on board the plane before it landed in Jarkata. They were subsequently returned to the victim.
The man was denied entry by the Indonesian authorities and directed to return to Singapore. He was arrested by officers from Airport Police Division after the plane landed at Changi Airport.
Foreign currencies and several mobile phones were recovered from him and seized as case exhibits.
The man was charged with the offence of theft, which carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
The cabin crew member was presented with the Public Spiritedness Award on Nov 3, 2025, for his alertness in detecting the theft and prompt action.
"This case highlights the importance of public vigilance in maintaining the safety and security of air travel," the police said on March 10.
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