A British man faces up to seven years in prison after he was arrested as he flew into Singapore's Changi Airport after allegedly stealing a GBP 200 denim jacket from a mannequin at the same airport two years ago.
The 26-year-old was arrested at Changi Airport in Singapore on 15th August, after returning to the country while in transit, more than two years after the alleged theft at the airport's Jewel shopping complex.
The alleged theft took place on 14th August 2024, when a retail assistant noticed that a blue denim jacket was missing from a display mannequin and alerted police at around 6.35pm.
A review of CCTV footage allegedly showed the British man removing the jacket from the mannequin at about 3.55pm before leaving the shop without paying.
The jacket was valued at around SGD 350, equivalent to approximately GBP 202.
Airport Police Division officers subsequently established the suspect's identity, but he had already departed Singapore.
He was finally arrested when he returned to Changi Airport more than two years later.
The British man is due to be charged in court on 25th August with one count of theft in a building under Section 380 of Singapore's Penal Code 1871.
If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
His case was announced alongside that of a 50-year-old Polish woman who was arrested over two alleged perfume thefts at Changi Airport Terminal 1.
She will face two counts of theft in a building.
Singapore Police said they take "a serious stance" against shop theft and will deal "firmly" with offenders "in accordance with the law".
Police also warned: "Offenders should not assume that they can evade detection simply by leaving Singapore after committing an offence."
The force added that it would continue working closely with stakeholders to "prevent, detect and deter shop theft at Changi Airport".
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
