Chinese man, 50, allegedly stole S$750 & 3 bank cards on flight from S'pore, spotted by cabin crew member

A 50-year-old Chinese man will be charged on Mar. 11 for allegedly stealing S$750 and three bank cards aboard an aircraft going from Singapore to Jakarta.

According to a news release, police were alerted to a suspected theft on Oct. 2, 2025, at around 6:20pm.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man left his seat, walked several rows ahead and allegedly removed a victim’s bag from the aircraft's overhead compartment.

The man purportedly returned to his seat, rummaged through the bag, taking the cash and cards from the victim's wallet before putting the bag back in its original place.

Cabin crew spotted suspicious behaviour

The man's suspicious behaviour was noted by a cabin crew member who alerted the victim to check on his belongings.

The victim checked his bag and discovered the cash and cards missing.

Cabin crew alerted the flight captain, and the matter was reported to Indonesian authorities.

Before arrival in Jakarta, the missing items were found and handed back to the victim.

Indonesian authorities denied entry to the man, and he was directed to return to Singapore.

He was arrested at Changi Airport by the Airport Police Division (APD).

Police also seized foreign currencies and several mobile phones from the man to be used as case exhibits.

Cabin crew awarded

On Nov. 3, 2025, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Police M. Malathi, Commander of the APD, presented the Public Spiritedness Award to Muhammad Fariz bin Johari, the cabin crew member, in recognition of his vigilance in detecting the theft.

Malathi commended Fariz for his prompt response in reporting the suspicious behaviour during the flight.

"Such vigilance by airline staff and members of the public play an important role in deterring crime and assisting the authorities in the swift detection of theft onboard an aircraft."

The police said that this highlights the importance of "public vigilance in maintaining the safety and security of air travel".

Penalties & advisory

The man will be charged in court with the offence of theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code 1871, read with Section 3(1) of the Tokyo Convention Act 1971.

If found guilty, the offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.

The police also provided a reminder to members of the public to protect themselves from being victims of crime on board an aircraft, saying:

"Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

• Keep your cash or valuables with you at all times instead of placing them inside the overhead luggage compartments
• Be wary and keep a lookout for passengers who are seen opening up overhead compartments, retrieving baggage, and rummaging through them during the flight; and
• Alert the cabin crew immediately of such suspicious behaviour."

Top photo from Canva