As global travel hubs like our very own Changi Airport become more luxurious, a rising wave of thefts suggests that convenience, combined with a false sense of security, is creating new opportunities for criminals operating in transit

Luxury stores in Changi T2

There appears to be quite a spate of shoplifting at Changi Airport this year. Yesterday, The Straits Times reported that two women were arrested after a “theft spree” in the airport’s shop-filled transit area. The Indian nationals allegedly stole a bag from the Furla store in T3. When caught within 60 minutes, according to ST, they were found to have also nicked a backpack and a bottle of perfume, the brands of both items were not identified. And just last month, a British man was arrested for what the authorities believe was “a series of shop thefts” that saw him remove from shelves without paying “perfumes, cosmetics, wine, confectionery and a wallet, amounting to more than S$2,900”, ST reported too.

And there is the ‘return-and-get-arrested’ phenomenon: Those who initially got away with what they stole—also during transit—but was apprehended when they passed through Changi later. An Indian national was busted in February 2025 for shoplifting after returning to Changi Airport in transit; he stole a tie clip worth S$480 a month earlier, but could not escape arrest when he returned. Similarly, an Indian-Australian woman was charged in April 2025 for allegedly stealing a S$248 bottle of Chanel perfume from a Shilla Duty Free store at T1 in March 2023. She has left the country, but returned two years later, when she was caught and fined S$750 for the shop theft. Changi Airport has the memory of elephants.

And there were those who initially got away with what they stole, but was apprehended when they passed through Changi later

Is Changi especially attractive to would-be thieves? We do wonder if our consistent ranking as the best airport in the world, and the attributes that contribute to that position, could have worked against us by tempting shoplifters into action. Being the best inevitably implies a high standard of services, facilities, and, crucially for shoplifters, a wide array of premium and luxury retail offerings. Potential thieves would associate our airport with a concentration of desirable items. Except T4, there is a noticeably high gathering of luxury stores, not to mention the flagships of The Shilla Duty Free and Lotte Duty Free. This convergence of often expensive goods (but not necessarily of true fashion value) presents a rich target environment for shoplifters, including those looking to steal for resale.

The airport’s reputation, no doubt well-earned, comes with it, a perceived affluence, possibly leading thieves to believe that the shops are well-stocked with high-value goods. Although Changi has not earned the best shopping destination for an airport (not even for Jewel), passengers, and by extension, potential thieves, associate “best airport” with a premier retail environment. Changi’s retail landscape is undeniably extensive, and it is the density of desirability that possibly makes it attractive to thieves. Even if Changi’s terminals aren’t marketed as a standalone shopping destination like Jewel, the crux of transit activity is visibly shopping. Departing for Hong Kong last February, we heard a Chinese traveler telling her companion, “他们机场的店比咋们的商场还要多 (they have more stores in their airport than in our malls)!”

Changi’s Terminal 3

In travel media, both traditional and online, there has been much coverage of shopping as the prominent element of the transit experience at Changi. The sheer volume of international transit passengers amid the strategic layout of stores might be seen by opportunistic thieves as a chance to commit a crime and quickly leave the jurisdiction before being detected. Campaigns like the year-round ‘Changi Millionaire Experiences’ further underscore the focus on retail and the potential for high-value purchases, even if their primary goal is to create incentives for legitimate spending. While the allure exists for thieves-to-be, the highly effective and integrated security measures (both technological and human) mean that the chances of criminal success and escaping, as recent arrests show, are exceptionally low. And any quick exit strategy would be deeply flawed.

The perceived smoothness of the Changi Airport experience, particularly with the implementation of passport-free and biometric-driven movement after check-in, could have also contributed to a false sense of security or opportunity for potential thieves. Frequent users of the airport would know that the minute you arrived at the kerb outside the departure halls, ‘eyes’ are already on them. Although largely hidden, Changi has all-seeing measures to counter the lure of crime. Their security (CCTV and airport police, just to name two), is highly integrated: Information about a theft is quickly disseminated, and suspects are often identified and located within minutes, sometimes even before they reach their boarding gate. The passport-free system and advance passenger information mean that authorities know exactly who is in the airport, and where, as well as their flight details. There’s no real anonymity in Changi, whether a crime is committed or only considered. And, crucially, no place to hide.

File photos: Zhao Xiangji for SOTD