In-flight Theft Cases Increase

SUARA NEGERI | Singapore authorities said there had been an increase in cases of theft on planes in the Asian region. The perpetrators are suspected of being an organized crime syndicate that takes advantage of short transit times to steal passengers' valuables.

Quoting the Malay Mail, on Sunday (6/29/2025), Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, commander of the Airport Police Division (APD), said the perpetrators generally work in pairs, targeting certain passengers, then immediately leaving the destination country after landing.

"They usually only take some cash and maybe one or two cards. They don't take the entire wallet, because that's easier to spot," he said.

Malathi added that a quick report from the victim is very important so that officers can immediately track and intercept the perpetrators before they board their next flight.

This warning comes after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed a spike in cabin theft cases in the Asian region in the past 12 to 18 months, based on input from a number of member airlines.

In Hong Kong, there were 169 cases of theft on board aircraft in the first 10 months of 2024, with losses reaching HK$4.32 million (around Rp8.7 billion), an increase of 75 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, Malaysia reported 146 cases in the same period, up from 88 cases the previous year.

According to Vietnamese authorities, the syndicate uses tactics such as buying last-minute tickets, avoiding checked baggage, and frequently changing airlines to avoid being tracked.

Singapore Airlines did not provide details on the number of cases, but stated that their cabin crew had been trained to be alert and immediately report any suspicious activity during flights. In Singapore itself, three people were charged with theft on board aircraft between January and May 2025, up from one case in the same period in 2024. Most of the perpetrators are known to be Chinese nationals.

On June 4, two Chinese men, Liu Xitang and Wang Wei, were charged with stealing US$169 in cash and two debit cards belonging to other passengers on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

Another Chinese national, Zhang Kun, was previously found guilty in May of stealing credit cards and more than $200 from passengers on the same flight route in March.

The APD said it uses data analytics to identify suspicious behavior patterns, including frequent short transit trips, to detect potential syndicate members early. (*)