SINGAPORE: A 25-year-old Indian national was arrested at Changi Airport on 28 January for allegedly stealing a tie clip from a retail shop before departing Singapore days earlier.
The police confirmed the arrest in a statement on 3 February, stating that the man had been identified but had already left the country before officers could detain him.
The case of shop theft was reported on 23 January at the transit area of Terminal 2.
According to police investigations, a tie clip valued at S$480 had gone missing from the store.
CCTV footage later revealed the suspect slipping the item into his left pocket before leaving the shop without making payment.
The man was arrested when he returned to Singapore while in transit at Changi Airport on 28 January.
The police recovered the stolen tie clip from his possessions. He is scheduled to be charged in court on 4 February.
If convicted of theft, he could face up to seven years in prison, a fine, or both under Singaporean law.
This incident is not the first case of alleged shoplifting by foreigners at Changi Airport.
In a separate case, a 62-year-old woman from India was arrested on 23 December 2024 after allegedly stealing perfume bottles and souvenirs worth more than S$1,100 before boarding her flight.
Earlier, on 5 December 2024, the police arrested a man and a woman—both identified as foreigners aged 22—on suspicion of stealing 10 perfume bottles valued at more than S$2,600 from the airport.
Singapore maintains strict laws against theft, including in transit areas, with enforcement actions taken against those found guilty of shoplifting. Authorities continue to monitor such incidents closely.
