2 Chinese nationals allegedly stole bank cards from passengers' bags on Singapore-bound flight; to be charged

Two male Chinese nationals, aged 54 and 59, will be charged in court on Wednesday (Oct 14) for their alleged involvement in two separate cases of theft onboard an aircraft.

Police said in a news release on Tuesday night that the duo were arrested during an operation at Changi Airport Terminal 4 that targeted theft cases onboard aircraft on Monday.

According to the police, the two men were arrested after they were found in possession of three bank cards that did not belong to them, with further investigations revealing that they had stolen the cards from two passengers' bags during a flight from Ho Chi Minh to Singapore.

Each of the two men are said to have taken the cards from a different passenger's bag stored in the overhead compartment.

They later disembarked the aircraft without the victims realising that their cards were missing.

If found guilty of the said offence, the duo could each be jailed for up to three years, fined or both.

The police warned would-be perpetrators that they have zero tolerance for such crime and will spare no effort to apprehend such offenders and bring them to justice.

They also reminded travellers to protect themselves from becoming victims of crime onboard an aircraft by keeping cash or valuables with them at all times instead of placing such items inside the overhead compartments.

"Be wary and keep a lookout for passengers who are seen opening overhead compartments and retrieving or rummaging through baggage during the flight. Alert the cabin crew immediately to such suspicious behaviour," the police added.

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