SINGAPORE- On June 2, 2025, Singapore police arrested two Indian women, aged 29 and 30, for shoplifting items worth SGD 635 from Terminal 3’s departure transit area at Changi Airport (SIN).
Authorities detected the thefts and responded immediately using CCTV footage to identify the suspects within one hour of the crimes occurring.
Photo- WikipediaSingapore Changi Airport Theft Incident
Police recovered 3 stolen items from the woman’s possession. Officers found a purse with the younger woman, while the older woman carried a black backpack and a perfume bottle in her luggage—the recovered merchandise totalled SGD 635, equivalent to USD 494 in value.
Both women faced detention before they could leave the country. The court scheduled their appearance for June 10, where they face potential sentences of up to 7 years imprisonment, fines, or combined penalties upon conviction.
Singapore authorities emphasised their commitment to preventing retail theft. Police stated that they will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to deter shoplifting cases at the airport.
Photo- WikipediaHistorical Pattern
Previous incidents at Changi Airport (SIN) demonstrate ongoing security challenges. An Australian woman received a SGD 750 fine after pleading guilty to stealing Chanel perfume worth SGD 250 from a duty-free store on March 22, 2023. Authorities detained her when she returned to Singapore on March 31, 2025.
The most recent major case occurred in May when police arrested a British man for allegedly stealing merchandise worth over SGD 2,900.
Other Theft Incident
In May 2024, Delhi police arrested Rajesh Kapoor, a 40-year-old jewel thief, after he executed a sophisticated theft operation spanning approximately 200 flights within a single year.
Kapoor stole jewellery and cash from fellow passengers’ carry-on baggage, accumulating millions in stolen goods.
By Bharatahs – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62898030Criminal Methods
Kapoor operated using his deceased brother Rishi’s identity, employing fake mobile numbers and forged documents to book flights systematically. The criminal used accumulated frequent flyer miles to purchase a hotel in Delhi’s Paharganj area, demonstrating the operation’s extensive scale.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Usha Rangnani revealed that Kapoor primarily targeted older women passengers, stalking them during connecting flights. The thief executed crimes both inside aircraft cabins and during security checkpoint procedures.
Network
Kapoor’s criminal career began in 2005, initially targeting air-conditioned train coaches before transitioning to aviation-based theft. His associate, Sharad Jain, a Karol Bagh-based jeweller, facilitated the operation by purchasing and processing stolen goods, creating a comprehensive criminal network.
Photo- PexelsInvestigation
The investigation commenced after 2 passengers filed complaints in February and April, reporting stolen jewellery from cabin baggage. Police analysed footage from over 100 CCTV cameras across multiple locations to identify the suspect.
Despite Kapoor’s use of untraceable fake phone numbers, technical investigation methods eventually led authorities to his location. Police discovered Kapoor owned the Paharganj hotel when they approached the area for his arrest.
Arrest Process
Authorities recovered significant quantities of stolen jewellery during the operation. Police connected the suspect to 11 additional similar cases, indicating the operation’s broader impact on aviation security.
DCP Rangnani confirmed that Team IGI successfully ended the ongoing aircraft heists with Kapoor’s arrest, recovering a substantial stash of stolen jewellery and dismantling the criminal network.
Photo- PexelsBottom Line
The cases reveal that both opportunistic shoplifting and sophisticated criminal operations can exploit gaps in aviation security protocols, particularly targeting passengers’ personal belongings during vulnerable moments.
The arrests highlight the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement responses using technology and international cooperation. However, the scale of Kapoor’s operation—spanning 200 flights and multiple jurisdictions—indicates that aviation authorities must strengthen passenger baggage monitoring and implement more robust identity verification systems to prevent similar criminal enterprises from exploiting air travel infrastructure.
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