The Changi Airport is an absolute horrendous place to attempt to steal anything.
Not just for moral or legal reasons — but practical reasons. Because the airport has what seems like CCTV cameras that can almost read your mind.
The Anti-Aging Bandit
Months before being caught, an Australian tourist simply grabbed a box of anti-aging products worth about S$507 (just shy of US$390) from a Guardian store in the transit area of Terminal 1.
He just picked it up, walked out, boarded a flight, and flew out with some free samples of anti-aging products.
This all happened on April 14. The police only received the information about the theft on May 7.
They went through the footage, identified the person … but by then, he had already left Singapore.
Fast forward to November 2.
He was travelling through Changi Airport for a transit flight — and boom, police are waiting for him.
He had a court appearance set for November 12, and now he is facing possible imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
Not a very good deal for a box of anti-aging products.
Now back to June.
A husband-and-wife (team from the U.S.) had to give it a shot.
He slipped a bottle of Dior Sauvage valued at about US$160 into his pocket and asked his wife to look out for him.
It seems that was not their warm -up – police subsequently found out that during the time of their movements, they had stolen more than US$750 worth of merchandise.
Dentist and engineer by training. Shoplifters by hobby. Bad decision by logic.
Then, flash forward to September
A report comes in : sunglasses stolen from a retail store in Terminal 2.
CCTV captures a man casually taking them without paying.
After doing further digging – police finds out – before the sunglasses – the same man walked into *eight different stores – inside the transit area.
He purportedly stole:
- sunglasses
- water bottle
- bag
- luggage
- passport holder
- key chains
- accessories
Total value : More than US$2600 worth of random airport souvenirs.
Police recovered everything.
He will be arraigned on September 26 , and just like the others he may face up to seven years in jail, a fine, or both.
Changi is not your average ‘airport’.
It is filled with cameras, biometric systems, and people skilled in catching shoplifters.
The police even made it clear: They take retail theft seriously, and if you were a shoplifter caught, there would not just be an exercise to scold you, you would get prosecuted.
To sum up:
- Tourists took items.
- Changi monitored them.
- They were apprehended.
- Court appearances are on the way.
- It was the worst souvenir shopping experience ever.
If you want items from Changi Airport, pay like everyone else. Whether you return or not, the cameras are always watching.
