A 38-year-old Chinese national has been arrested after allegedly taking a Swarovski bracelet worth nearly S$256 from a retail outlet at Changi Airport without paying for it.
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the incident took place at the Swarovski store in the departure transit area of Terminal 3. The woman was reportedly identified through police investigations and CCTV footage before she could leave Singapore.
The bracelet was subsequently recovered from her possession.
Bracelet Discovered Missing From Display Shelf
The case came to light on 26 September, when a retail assistant at the Swarovski outlet discovered that a bracelet valued at S$255.95 was missing from a display shelf.
CCTV footage allegedly showed a woman taking the item before leaving the shop without making payment.
The police were alerted at around 1.15am that day. Officers from the Airport Police Division then conducted ground enquiries and reviewed the available surveillance footage to identify the suspected offender.
Their investigations eventually led them to the 38-year-old woman, who was arrested before she could depart from Singapore.
The bracelet was found in her possession and recovered by the authorities.
Woman Faces Potential Jail Term Under Singapore Law
The woman is due to be charged in court on 13 October with theft in dwelling.
Under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871, a person convicted of theft in a building used for the custody of property may face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
The case serves as a reminder that alleged shop theft at Singapore’s retail outlets can lead to police investigations, arrest and criminal proceedings, even when the value of the missing merchandise is relatively modest.
Police Warn That CCTV Footage Can Help Identify Suspects
The SPF has also highlighted the growing role of surveillance technology in detecting and investigating shop theft cases.
According to the police, retail outlets are increasingly using CCTV footage, including footage from cameras equipped with facial recognition technology, to assist in identifying suspected offenders and submitting reports to the authorities.
Such evidence can help investigators establish what allegedly happened and identify individuals who may not have been apprehended at the scene.
The police stressed that CCTV footage can significantly increase the likelihood of suspects being identified later, even if they initially leave the premises without being stopped.
For retailers operating in busy locations such as Changi Airport, surveillance footage can therefore play an important role in investigating suspected theft and recovering missing merchandise.
The woman’s case will proceed through the courts, where the allegations will be dealt with in accordance with Singapore law.