The Police have arrested an 82-year-old Australian man for his suspected involvement in two cases of shop theft in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1.
On 18 March 2025 at about 9.33am, the Police were alerted to a case of shop theft after a box of perfume, valued at $149, was discovered missing from the display shelf of The Shilla Cosmetics & Perfumes outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1. With the aid of images from CCTV cameras, officers from Airport Police Division established the identity of the man, who was seen allegedly leaving the outlet with the unpaid item earlier that day, but he had already departed from Singapore.
Follow-up investigations revealed that that the man had, on 13 March 2025, also allegedly taken another box of the same perfume from the same outlet, without paying for it. He subsequently departed from Singapore. Both items were not recovered.
On 24 July 2025, the man returned to Singapore and was arrested while in transit for another flight at Changi Airport.
The man will be charged in court on 4 August 2025 with two counts of theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, or with a fine, or with both.
The Police take a serious view of shop theft cases and offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. Offenders should not think that they can evade capture by quickly boarding an outbound flight. The Police will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter cases of shop theft.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
01 August 2025 @ 10:50 PM