Latest news with #MMalathi
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Organised crime groups behind in-flight theft cases, says Singapore Police Force
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A spike in cabin theft cases in Asia has been blamed on members of organised crime groups, who catch short-transit flights – including trips to Singapore – to steal small items from passengers. Hong Kong has been one of the worst hit, with 169 cases of in-flight theft involving HK$4.32 million ($700,000) in valuables recorded in the first 10 months of 2024 – a 75 per cent increase from the same period the previous year. In an interview with The Straits Times, Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, who is commander of the Airport Police Division (APD), said that in-flight theft cases are difficult to detect and investigate. She said syndicate members, who work in pairs to steal from unsuspecting passengers, often catch a flight out of Singapore soon after landing at Changi Airport. '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,' said AC Malathi, who added that the authorities have a short lead time before the suspects leave on an outbound flight. 'A timely report is important for our officers to quickly track and trace the suspects and intercept them before they catch their next flight,' she said, adding that passengers should always keep their valuables on them and remain vigilant. The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents about 300 airlines, had flagged concerns on June 3 after members indicated a spike in in-flight theft cases over the last 12 to 18 months. Many of the routes were in Asia. According to reports, Malaysia saw a significant increase in onboard theft cases, with the authorities receiving 146 reports in the first 10 months of 2024, compared with 88 in the previous year and 33 in 2022. The authorities in Vietnam reported that criminals often purchase last-minute tickets, avoid checked baggage, and switch between domestic and international flights and different carriers to avoid detection. Singapore Airlines (SIA) declined to share statistics and information regarding theft cases on board, but said the cabin crew are trained to be vigilant and alert the authorities of any suspicious behaviour on flights. 'Should there be a suspected theft case, SIA and Scoot will assist the affected customer, and will cooperate fully with the authorities in their investigations,' a spokesman for the SIA Group told The Straits Times. At its general meeting in India, Iata said that many of the theft cases appear to be organised from China. The police in Singapore declined to reveal where the syndicates operate from, but checks by ST showed that four out of five people who were charged in 2025 over cabin theft were Chinese nationals. AC Malathi said in-flight theft picked up around the time air travel started to recover after the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We see more of these syndicates working as air travel picks up. Singapore is not the only location. This is happening worldwide,' she said. Between January and May, three people were charged in Singapore for theft on board an aircraft. Only one person was charged in the same period in 2024. More recently, two Chinese nationals were arrested and charged in court on June 4 after being accused of stealing from passengers while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Liu Xitang, 35, and Wang Wei, 40, are accused of taking $169 in cash and two debit cards from another passenger. In May, Chinese national Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and more than $200 in cash from a passenger on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in March. The Airport Division said it tries to identify potential syndicate members by looking out for a common trend of behaviour, including frequent travel and transit flights, often with just a two- or three-hour transit period. 'We use data analytics in general to identify these people that could be of interest coming into Singapore, and to aid our investigation process,' said AC Malathi, who added that criminals operate across all classes of travel. Another area of concern she flagged during the interview is shop theft in transit areas in Changi Airport, which saw 37 cases between January and May. There were a total of 109 cases in 2024, and 129 cases the year before. 'These crimes are very opportunistic. Some travellers walk into the shops and take what they want and walk off. 'Some of them get emboldened if they get away the first time,' said AC Malathi. To help address it, the APD has used robots since 2023 to patrol the airport, as a way to beef up police presence. The robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that can capture footage and allow the public to communicate with officers. AC Malathi said a new patrol robot called Gibson, which will be equipped to transport an officer, will be launched later in 2025. More details on its latest fleet will be revealed at a later date. - The Straits Times/ANN
Focus Malaysia
8 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
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
AsiaOne
11 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Organised crime groups behind in-flight theft cases: Singapore Police Force, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - A spike in cabin theft cases in Asia has been blamed on members of organised crime groups, who catch short-transit flights - including trips to Singapore - to steal small items from passengers. Hong Kong has been one of the worst hit, with 169 cases of in-flight theft involving HK$4.32 million (S$700,000) in valuables recorded in the first 10 months of 2024 - a 75 per cent increase from the same period the previous year. In an interview with The Straits Times, Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, who is commander of the Airport Police Division (APD), said that in-flight theft cases are difficult to detect and investigate. She said syndicate members, who work in pairs to steal from unsuspecting passengers, often catch a flight out of Singapore soon after landing at Changi Airport. "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," said AC Malathi, who added that the authorities have a short lead time before the suspects leave on an outbound flight. "A timely report is important for our officers to quickly track and trace the suspects and intercept them before they catch their next flight," she said, adding that passengers should always keep their valuables on them and remain vigilant. The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents about 300 airlines, had flagged concerns on June 3 after members indicated a spike in in-flight theft cases over the last 12 to 18 months. Many of the routes were in Asia. According to reports, Malaysia saw a significant increase in onboard theft cases, with the authorities receiving 146 reports in the first 10 months of 2024, compared with 88 in the previous year and 33 in 2022. The authorities in Vietnam reported that criminals often purchase last-minute tickets, avoid checked baggage, and switch between domestic and international flights and different carriers to avoid detection. Singapore Airlines (SIA) declined to share statistics and information regarding theft cases on board, but said the cabin crew are trained to be vigilant and alert the authorities of any suspicious behaviour on flights. "Should there be a suspected theft case, SIA and Scoot will assist the affected customer, and will co-operate fully with the authorities in their investigations," a spokesman for the SIA Group told The Straits Times. At its general meeting in India, Iata said that many of the theft cases appear to be organised from China. The police in Singapore declined to reveal where the syndicates operate from, but checks by ST showed that four out of five people who were charged in 2025 over cabin theft were Chinese nationals. AC Malathi said in-flight theft picked up around the time air travel started to recover after the Covid-19 pandemic. "We see more of these syndicates working as air travel picks up. Singapore is not the only location. This is happening worldwide," she said. Between January and May, three people were charged in Singapore for theft on board an aircraft. Only one person was charged in the same period in 2024. More recently, two Chinese nationals were arrested and charged in court on June 4 after being accused of stealing from passengers while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. [[nid:697688]] Liu Xitang, 35, and Wang Wei, 40, are accused of taking $169 in cash and two debit cards from another passenger. In May, Chinese national Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and more than $200 in cash from a passenger on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in March. The Airport Division said it tries to identify potential syndicate members by looking out for a common trend of behaviour, including frequent travel and transit flights, often with just a two- or three-hour transit period. "We use data analytics in general to identify these people that could be of interest coming into Singapore, and to aid our investigation process," said AC Malathi, who added that criminals operate across all classes of travel. Another area of concern she flagged during the interview is shop theft in transit areas in Changi Airport, which saw 37 cases between January and May. There were a total of 109 cases in 2024, and 129 cases the year before. "These crimes are very opportunistic. Some travellers walk into the shops and take what they want and walk off. "Some of them get emboldened if they get away the first time," said AC Malathi. To help address it, the APD has used robots since 2023 to patrol the transit areas, as a way to beef up police presence. The robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that can capture footage and allow the public to communicate with officers. AC Malathi said a new patrol robot called Gibson, which will be equipped to transport an officer, will be launched later in 2025. More details on its latest fleet will be revealed at a later date. This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Organised crime groups behind in-flight theft cases: Singapore Police Force
Syndicate members, who work in pairs to steal from unsuspecting passengers, often catch a flight out of Singapore soon after landing at Changi Airport. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PIXABAY SINGAPORE - A spike in cabin theft cases in Asia has been blamed on members of organised crime groups, who catch short-transit flights – including trips to Singapore – to steal small items from passengers. Hong Kong has been one of the worst hit, with 169 cases of in-flight theft involving HK$4.32 million ($700,000) in valuables recorded in the first 10 months of 2024 – a 75 per cent increase from the same period the previous year. In an interview with The Straits Times, Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, who is commander of the Airport Police Division (APD), said that in-flight theft cases are difficult to detect and investigate. She said syndicate members, who work in pairs to steal from unsuspecting passengers, often catch a flight out of Singapore soon after landing at Changi Airport. '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,' said AC Malathi, who added that the authorities have a short lead time before the suspects leave on an outbound flight. 'A timely report is important for our officers to quickly track and trace the suspects and intercept them before they catch their next flight,' she said, adding that passengers should always keep their valuables on them and remain vigilant. The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents about 300 airlines, had flagged concerns on June 3 after members indicated a spike in in-flight theft cases over the last 12 to 18 months. Many of the routes were in Asia. According to reports, Malaysia saw a significant increase in onboard theft cases, with the authorities receiving 146 reports in the first 10 months of 2024, compared with 88 in the previous year and 33 in 2022. The authorities in Vietnam reported that criminals often purchase last-minute tickets, avoid checked baggage, and switch between domestic and international flights and different carriers to avoid detection. Singapore Airlines (SIA) declined to share statistics and information regarding theft cases on board, but said the cabin crew are trained to be vigilant and alert the authorities of any suspicious behaviour on flights. 'Should there be a suspected theft case, SIA and Scoot will assist the affected customer, and will cooperate fully with the authorities in their investigations,' a spokesman for the SIA Group told The Straits Times. At its general meeting in India, Iata said that many of the theft cases appear to be organised from China. The police in Singapore declined to reveal where the syndicates operate from, but checks by ST showed that four out of five people who were charged in 2025 over cabin theft were Chinese nationals. AC Malathi said in-flight theft picked up around the time air travel started to recover after the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We see more of these syndicates working as air travel picks up. Singapore is not the only location. This is happening worldwide,' she said. Between January and May, three people were charged in Singapore for theft on board an aircraft. Only one person was charged in the same period in 2024. More recently, two Chinese nationals were arrested and charged in court on June 4 after being accused of stealing from passengers while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Liu Xitang, 35, and Wang Wei, 40, are accused of taking $169 in cash and two debit cards from another passenger. In May, Chinese national Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and more than $200 in cash from a passenger on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in March. The Airport Division said it tries to identify potential syndicate members by looking out for a common trend of behaviour, including frequent travel and transit flights, often with just a two- or three-hour transit period. 'We use data analytics in general to identify these people that could be of interest coming into Singapore, and to aid our investigation process,' said AC Malathi, who added that criminals operate across all classes of travel. AC Malathi, who is commander of the APD, said in-flight theft cases are difficult to detect and investigate. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Another area of concern she flagged during the interview is shop theft in transit areas in Changi Airport, which saw 37 cases between January and May. There were a total of 109 cases in 2024, and 129 cases the year before. 'These crimes are very opportunistic. Some travellers walk into the shops and take what they want and walk off. 'Some of them get emboldened if they get away the first time,' said AC Malathi. To help address it, the APD has used robots since 2023 to patrol the transit areas, as a way to beef up police presence. The robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that can capture footage and allow the public to communicate with officers. AC Malathi said a new patrol robot called Gibson, which will be equipped to transport an officer, will be launched later in 2025. More details on its latest fleet will be revealed at a later date. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
International Business Times
04-06-2025
- General
- International Business Times
Singapore: 22-Year-Old Man to be Charged for Making Bomb Hoax Leading to Aircraft Being Recalled at Changi Airport
A 22-year-old man will be charged on Thursday, June 5, with a bomb hoax he allegedly committed while on a flight departing Changi Airport. The police said that they were informed about a social media post containing a threat to blow up an aircraft on February 14, at around 7.20 pm. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a news release on Wednesday that after follow-up investigations, officers from the Airport Police Division have established the identity of the man within an hour of the post and confirmed that he was on a flight bound for Abu Dhabi. "The aircraft, which was already taxiing on the runway and about to take off, was recalled to Changi Airport Terminal 2, where the man was subsequently arrested," the authorities added. Investigations found that he allegedly stated "no one here knows I'm going to blow the plane up" on his social media account after boarding the plane. The police stated, "The man was found to have no means to carry out his threat, as no threat items were discovered in his possession." However, the police didn't identify the man's nationality. The man will be charged with giving false information about a hazardous thing under Section 268A of the Penal Code. The offense attracts a maximum seven-year prison sentence, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both. The police stated they take all security concerns seriously and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who incites public fear with fake threats. Commander of Airport Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police M Malathi said, "The safety and security of passengers and airport staff, are our top priority." She added, "Beyond fear and inconvenience caused, the making of false threats, especially relating to airport and airline operations, involves significant public resources that have to be deployed to deal with the incident. "All security threats will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will be tracked down and prosecuted," ACP concluded.
