Authorities arrested a 51-year-old Chinese man in Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport on Sunday (11 Oct) for allegedly committing in-flight theft and credit card fraud.
The suspect, identified as Zheng Yu Qlang, purportedly rummaged through bags inside planes’ overhead bins while passengers were distracted and asleep.
He allegedly took cash and credit cards, which he then used to make purchases in China as soon as he landed.
Source: Thaiger
Upon arrest, officers seized credit cards and two mobile phones from Zheng. They also found THB35,950 (about S$1,400) in cash and banknotes from 12 other countries.
Earlier, two alleged victims of in-flight theft had reported unauthorised credit card transactions worth nearly THB293,000 (about S$11,200).
According to Thaiger, the crime was uncovered after a passenger who travelled from Chiang Rai to Don Mueang on 5 Oct reported suspicious credit card transactions.
They purportedly received a notification about an unsuccessful payment of RMB4,000 (about S$765) in Heyuan, Guangdong Province.
Upon checking their mobile banking application, they found three successful transactions totalling HKD62,000 (about S$10,100).
The victim began to suspect that their credit card had been stolen from a bag they had placed in the plane’s overhead compartment.
On 7 Oct, another passenger who arrived at Don Mueang from Chiang Mai reported that a credit card and THB25,000 (about S$954) in cash had been stolen from them.
Their friend had noticed a man searching through the overhead compartment and recorded the incident.
Source: Daily News
Upon landing, the second victim received notifications about four credit card transactions, also in Heyuan.
Two of these were successful, totalling THB27,595 (about S$1,000).
According to Matichon, witnesses pointed to Zheng as the thief. After checking passenger records, investigators also found that he had travelled on both victims’ flights.
They then coordinated with Chiang Mai Tourist Police and Chiang Rai Airport Authority to verify his identity before collecting evidence to apply for an arrest warrant.
Later, they received information that the Zheng would be travelling from Mae Fah Luang Airport and arriving at Don Mueang on 11 Oct.
Together with Don Mueang Airport Authority officials, they apprehended the suspect as he exited the connecting walkway at the domestic terminal’s arrival area.
Source: Thaiger
During interrogation, Zheng denied his involvement in the thefts, saying he had entered Thailand alone as a tourist on 3 Oct.
However, police suspect that others were involved in the alleged thefts.
They believed the criminals would wait for 30 minutes after take-off. When passengers began resting, they would then start searching the overhead bins, pretending to look for their belongings.
Officers are investigating how the thieves used the stolen cards immediately after landing.
They also suspected that the criminals were using portable payment equipment to commit fraud.
Also read: Chinese national arrested for stealing S$7,900 from overhead luggage during Thai Airways flight
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Featured image adapted from Matichon, Daily News.