Indian national, 38, left S'pore after allegedly stealing S$5,136 of items from Changi Airport & Jewel, arrested upon return

A 38-year-old Indian national left Singapore after allegedly stealing S$5,136 worth of items from 14 shops at Jewel Changi Airport and the transit area of Changi Airport terminals.

When he returned to Singapore on Jun. 1, he was arrested by officers from the airport police division, who found several unaccounted items in his possession, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a Jul. 23 news release.

The man will be charged in court on Jul. 25 with 13 counts of theft in dwelling, which carries a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

He will also face another count of fraudulent possession of property, which carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine, or both.

Left Singapore after allegedly stealing bag at Jewel

According to the police, they were alerted to a case of shop theft allegedly committed by the accused at around 4:28pm on May 29.

The complainant reported that a bag had gone missing from a retail outlet located at Jewel Changi Airport.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the retail supervisor found out about the missing bag following stock-taking.

When police reviewed the surveillance camera footage, the accused was seen taking the item and leaving the shop without paying.

Although the police established his identity at the time, the accused had already departed Singapore.

Stolen items recovered from accused

On Jun. 1, the accused was in transit at Changi Airport when he was arrested by officers from the airport police division.

The officers also conducted a search on his belongings, through which they found several unaccounted items in his possession.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of CCTV camera footage, officers established that the accused had allegedly taken various items from 13 other shops in Jewel Changi Airport and the transit area of Changi Airport terminals without paying.

The items, which included perfumes, cosmetics, and bags, had a total value of S$5,136.

They were recovered from the accused's possession.

Top images via Singapore Police Force