S'pore police arrest man, 30, for allegedly stealing S$1,193 in cash from woman's bag in plane's overhead compartment

The Singapore police arrested a 30-year-old male Chinese national, Zhang Youqi, for his suspected involvement in a case of theft onboard an aircraft.

He was charged in court on Feb. 6, CNA reported.

This was after the police were alerted on Feb. 4 at about 2pm to a case of alleged theft onboard an aircraft enroute to Singapore, the police said in a release on Feb. 5.

The incident occurred on board flight TR813 from Jeju to Singapore on Tuesday, according to CNA.

Alleged perpetrator seen touch bag

Preliminary investigations revealed that a passenger saw the man allegedly touching her bag, which was stored at the overhead compartment of the aircraft and confronted him.

Upon checking the contents of her bag, the passenger discovered that a stack of U.S. dollars was missing and suspected that the man had stolen her monies.

Zhang allegedly took the money from a drawstring pouch inside a backpack between 8:40am and 1:48pm, it was reported.

Airport police take action

After the aircraft landed at Changi Airport, officers from Airport Police Division conducted follow-up investigations.

Together with the assistance of the cabin crew, they managed to locate the missing stack of cash amounting to US$885 (S$1,193) in another overheard compartment near where the man traversed during the incident.

Zhang was charged in court on Feb. 6 for the offence of theft.

He is out on bail of S$10,000.

The case will be heard again on Feb. 13.

The offence carries a jail term of up to three years, or with a fine, or with both.

The police said they take a serious view of theft cases onboard aircraft and offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.

Top photo via Unsplash