Two foreigners will be charged with separate cases of alleged theft committed at Changi Airport and the adjacent Jewel mall.
One of them, a British man, allegedly swiped a jacket off a mannequin, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Monday (24 Aug).
The first case took place on 14 Aug 2024, when a retail assistant noticed that a blue denim jacket worth about S$350 was missing.
It had been on a display mannequin standing in the shop.
When CCTV footage was viewed, it was revealed that the British man had removed the jacket from the mannequin at about 3.55pm.
He then allegedly left the shop without paying for it.
Source: Singapore Police Force
Officers from SPF’s Airport Police Division (APD) were alerted to the alleged theft at about 6.35pm.
They managed to identify the 26-year-old British man, but he had already left Singapore by that time.
However, he returned to Changi Airport on transit more than two years later, on 15 Aug.
This time, he was arrested by the police.
In the second case, the police were alerted at about 11.40pm on 11 June.
According to CCTV footage, a Polish woman had taken a bottle of perfume worth about S$410 from a shop in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1.
This happened at about 8.25pm, after which she left the shop without paying for it.
Source: Singapore Police Force
APD identified the 50-year-old Polish woman via CCTV footage and arrested her in the transit area before she was able to depart Singapore.
Upon further investigation, they found that the woman had allegedly stolen another bottle of perfume at about 10.55pm.
The second bottle, which was valued at about S$400, was allegedly taken from another shop.
Both items were subsequently recovered.
Source: Singapore Police Force
On Tuesday (25 Aug), both foreigners will be charged in court with theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871.
The British man will be charged with one count, while the Polish woman will be charged with two counts.
The offence carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and/or a fine.
SPF said it takes “a serious stance” against shop theft cases and will deal “firmly” with offenders “in accordance with the law”.
It pledged to continue working closely with stakeholders to prevent, detect and deter shop theft at Changi Airport, adding:
Offenders should not assume that they can evade detection simply by leaving Singapore after committing an offence.
Also read: 2 men charged after allegedly stealing boxes of perfume from Changi Airport, 1 nabbed 9 months later
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Featured image adapted from Singapore Police Force and MS News.