Post by : Rohit Dhiman

A 47-year-old American man is set to appear in a Singapore court over a series of alleged perfume thefts at Changi Airport, with police investigations linking him to six bottles or boxes of perfume valued at almost S$1,410. The alleged incidents took place during two separate visits to Singapore. The first series was reported in November 2025, while another two alleged thefts were recorded when the suspect returned to Changi Airport in April this year. The case came to light after airport retail staff noticed that merchandise had disappeared from shop displays. Police subsequently reviewed surveillance footage and carried out investigations that eventually identified the suspect.

How the first alleged theft was discovered

The Singapore Police Force said it received a report on Nov 5, 2025, after a retail assistant noticed that a box of perfume was missing from a display shelf at a shop in Changi Airport Terminal 3. Police investigations indicated that the item had allegedly been taken the previous evening, on Nov 4, at about 7.38pm. Closed-circuit television footage reportedly showed the suspect taking the perfume from the retail outlet in the Terminal 3 transit area. The item was valued at S$331. The discovery prompted further checks into other reports and available surveillance footage at the airport.

Three more perfume boxes allegedly taken

Investigators later found that the same man was allegedly involved in three additional thefts on Nov 4. According to police, three more boxes of perfume were allegedly taken from two separate shops located in the Terminal 2 transit area. The combined value of those three items was S$646. Together with the perfume allegedly taken from Terminal 3, the value of the items involved in the first series of incidents came close to S$1,000. The investigation was handled by officers from the Airport Police Division, who worked to establish the identity and movements of the suspect.

Suspect had already left Singapore

Although investigators were able to identify the man, police said he had already departed Singapore by that time. His departure meant that officers had to continue monitoring the case and determine whether he would return to the country. The investigation eventually gained new significance several months later when the suspect was again spotted at Changi Airport.

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Two more alleged thefts during April visit

Police said the man returned to Changi Airport on the morning of Apr 24, 2026, while travelling on a connecting flight. Preliminary investigations indicated that he allegedly stole two more boxes of perfume from two different shops during this visit. The first alleged theft occurred at approximately 7.15am. Police said the perfume box involved in that incident was priced at S$236.90. Around six minutes later, another perfume box was allegedly taken from a different shop. That item was valued at S$195.40. The short gap between the two reported incidents became part of the police investigation into the alleged perfume theft cases.

Six items worth nearly S$1,410

Police said the six perfume items allegedly taken during the two periods had a combined value of almost S$1,410. The alleged incidents involved retail outlets located inside the airport's transit areas, where passengers can access shops while waiting for connecting or departing flights. The case therefore involved multiple retail locations and incidents spread across several months. Investigators continued working on the case after the suspect left Singapore following his April visit.

Arrest made at Changi Airport

The investigation eventually led to the man's arrest on Sept 25, 2026, when he was once again transiting through Changi Airport. His arrest followed months of police investigation into the alleged airport theft incidents. The repeated appearance of the suspect at the same international airport allowed authorities to take action when he was identified during another transit. Police did not indicate that the suspect had remained in Singapore between the alleged incidents. Instead, the investigation involved tracking the case across his separate visits.

#world news #Global News #Asia News #Singapore News