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The Police have arrested a 37-year-old Australian man and a 50-year-old American man for their suspected involvement in separate shop theft cases committed in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminals 1 and 2. They will be charged in court on 17 August 2026. 

Facts of the First Case

On 19 November 2025 at about 6.45pm, the Police were alerted to a shop theft at a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 2, when a retail assistant noticed two boxes of perfumes missing from the display shelf. A review of CCTV footage showed the Australian man taking the two boxes of perfumes, valued at about $430, at 4.50pm, before leaving without making payment. While officers from the Airport Police Division (APD) established the identity of the man, he had already departed from Singapore. 

On 4 August 2026, the man returned to Changi Airport while in transit and was arrested by the APD officers.  

Facts of the Second Case

In a separate case, on 5 August 2026 at about 1.25am, a case of shop theft was reported at a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1. The retail assistant discovered that a box of perfume was missing from the display shelf of their store. CCTV footage showed that at about 12.40am, the American man took one box of perfume, valued more than $310, and left without making payment. Upon receiving the report, APD officers swiftly located the man and arrested him before he could board his flight. Through further review of CCTV footage, it was discovered that the man had also stolen one box of perfumes, valued at about $170, and one bottle of perfume tester, valued at more than $230, from two other retail stores located in the transit area. All three stolen items, valued at more than $717, were recovered. 

Both men will be charged in court on 17 August 2026 for theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, or both. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Malathi, Commander of APD said, “The Police take a serious stance against shop theft cases and will deal firmly with offenders in accordance with the law. These cases serve as a reminder that advancements in CCTV technology and its widespread use by retailers have significantly enhanced the detection of such offences. Even where offenders initially evade detection, investigations will still lead to their identification and arrest. Those who commit such crimes will be held accountable for their actions. Airport Police remain committed to working closely with our stakeholders to prevent and deter shop theft at Changi Airport.”

Stolen items from the first case

Stolen items from the second case