Woman, 56, arrested at Changi Airport upon arrival for stealing S$716 handbag

The Singapore police arrested a 56-year-old female Chinese national for her suspected involvement in a case of shop theft upon her return to Singapore.

The woman had allegedly stolen a S$716 handbag from a retail shop at Changi Airport Terminal 4 on Jan. 7, 2025.

The staff had discovered the handbag missing from the display shelf and upon reviewing the CCTV footage, found that the woman had allegedly placed the handbag on her luggage trolley and left the shop without paying.

While the woman's identity was established, she had already left Singapore.

However, on Feb. 17, the woman returned to Singapore, also via Changi Airport, and was arrested.

The woman will be charged on Feb. 27 for the offence of theft in dwelling.

Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi, commander of the airport police division, said: "This case reiterated our point that with more widespread adoption of CCTV technology by retailers, shop theft cases that might have gone unnoticed at the time of the incident would eventually be detected."

"Even if the offenders manage to evade immediate detection, they will still face consequences for their actions. The airport police will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter cases of shop theft at our airports.”

The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, or with a fine, or with both.

Photo from Now Boarding