Two to be charged over separate shop thefts at Changi Airport and Jewel

SINGAPORE: A British man and a Polish woman will be charged on Tuesday (Aug 25) over separate shop theft cases at Jewel Changi Airport and Changi Airport respectively, police said on Monday.

In the first case, police were alerted to a theft at a retail outlet in Jewel Changi Airport at about 6.35pm on Aug 14, 2024.

Preliminary investigations found that a retail assistant had noticed a blue denim jacket missing from a display mannequin. A review of closed-circuit television footage (CCTV) showed that the 26-year-old British man had allegedly removed the jacket, valued at about S$350 (US$275), at about 3.55pm and left the store without paying.

Officers from the Airport Police Division (APD) established his identity, but he had already left Singapore. The suspect was arrested on Aug 15, 2026, after returning to Changi Airport while in transit.

In the other case, police were alerted to a shop theft at a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1 at about 11.40pm on Jun 11, 2026.

CCTV footage showed that the Polish woman had allegedly taken a bottle of perfume worth about S$410 at about 8.25pm and left the store without making payment, police said.

With the aid of CCTV footage, APD officers identified and arrested her in the transit area before her departure.

Further investigations found that the 50-year-old woman had also allegedly stolen another bottle of perfume worth about S$400 from a different retail outlet at about 10.55pm on the same day. Both items were recovered.

The man will be charged with one count of theft in dwelling, while the woman faces two counts of theft in dwelling.

If found guilty, they could face a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

Police said they take a serious stance against shop theft and will deal firmly with offenders.

"Offenders should not assume that they can evade detection simply by leaving Singapore after committing an offence," they added.