Surge in in-flight theft in Malaysia linked to international crime gang
A SURGE in in-flight thefts across Asia, particularly in Hong Kong and Malaysia, has been linked to organised crime groups targeting short-transit flights, including those to Singapore.
Malaysia saw 146 cases in the same period, up from 88 in 2023. Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, commander of Singapore's Airport Police Division, noted the difficulty in detecting these crimes, as syndicate members work in pairs, stealing small items like cash or cards to avoid notice.
'They will only take some cash and maybe one or two cards. They won't take your whole wallet, because if they do, it is easier to notice,' she said in a report published by The Straits Times.
Criminals often buy last-minute tickets and switch flights to evade detection.
Between January and May 2025, Singapore charged three individuals for in-flight theft, compared to one in 2024.
On June 4, Chinese nationals Liu Xitang, 35, and Wang Wei, 40, were charged with stealing S$169 and two debit cards on a Kuala Lumpur-Singapore flight. In May, Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and over $200 on a similar route.
The Singapore Airport Police Division (APD) uses data analytics to identify syndicate members, focusing on frequent travellers with short transit times.
'We use data analytics in general to identify these people that could be of interest coming into Singapore,' said AC Malathi.
Additionally, shoplifting in Changi Airport's transit areas is a concern, with 37 cases in early 2025, down from 109 in 2024 and 129 in 2023.
'These crimes are very opportunistic,' Malathi noted.
Since 2023, APD has deployed patrol robots, with a new model, Gibson, set for launch in 2025. — June 28, 2025
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