A woman allegedly stole a Swarovski bracelet worth $255.95 from a shop at Singapore’s Changi Airport, but CCTV footage helped police identify and arrest her before she could leave the country.
The 38-year-old Chinese national was arrested on Sept 26 following the alleged theft at the jewellery retailer’s outlet in the departure transit area of Terminal 3.
According to the Singapore Police Force, officers were alerted to the incident at about 1.15am that day after a retail assistant discovered that a bracelet was missing from a display shelf.
CCTV Footage Helped Police Track Down Suspect
Investigations revealed that CCTV footage allegedly showed the woman taking the bracelet from the display shelf and leaving the shop without paying.
Officers from the Airport Police Division subsequently conducted ground enquiries and used CCTV images to establish her identity.
She was arrested before her departure, and the missing bracelet was recovered from her possession, police said.
The woman is scheduled to be charged in court on Oct 13 with theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871.
If convicted, she could face up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Police Warn Retailers’ CCTV Can Help Identify Suspects
The police said they take shop theft seriously and noted that CCTV cameras, including systems equipped with facial recognition technology, can help retailers identify suspected offenders.
Authorities added that retailers are increasingly using surveillance footage to lodge police reports, even when suspects are not caught at the scene.
This means leaving a shop or airport without being immediately stopped does not necessarily prevent investigators from identifying a suspect later.
A Reminder for Travellers at Changi Airport
Changi Airport’s transit area serves travellers from around the world, with retail outlets offering jewellery, fashion, electronics and other goods.
The case highlights how airport surveillance and police investigations can help track alleged offences even when a suspect is preparing to leave Singapore.
The woman’s case is expected to proceed to court, where the allegations will be dealt with under Singapore law.
