(Singapore, 2nd) – An Australian man turned into a thief while waiting for a connecting flight at Singapore’s Changi Airport. In less than three hours, he stole branded luggage, pajamas, sunglasses and other items worth about $3,000 (approximately RM9,650) from stores. He was eventually caught with the stolen goods at the departure area after a shop staff lodged a police report. It was later revealed that this was not his first time stealing while in transit.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the Australian defendant, Slade (45), faced a total of 10 theft charges. On Friday (31st), he pleaded guilty to three of them. The judge took the remaining charges into consideration and sentenced him to 10 days in jail.
According to the case details, the defendant arrived at Terminal 2 of Singapore Changi Airport at 3:17pm on September 2 this year. He was scheduled to catch another flight to the Maldives that night at 8:45pm.
At around 7:30pm that night, the defendant went to branded travel goods store Tumi, took a suitcase worth $1,045 from the shelf, and left without paying. The act was caught on the store’s CCTV.
Later that evening, he also stole a set of pink Victoria’s Secret pajamas worth $113, two pairs of Oakley sunglasses each worth more than $340, a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $365, a brown Adidas bag worth $81, and a Starbucks insulated tumbler worth $52.
Other items he stole included a luggage tag, five bracelets, and a black Hard Rock Cafe baseball cap.
After a sales assistant from one of the stores reported the theft, police found the defendant at the departure boarding area at 8:05pm. Upon investigation, they discovered his involvement in the thefts, and all the stolen items were found in his luggage.
Further police investigation revealed that on July 28 this year, at 8:04am, the defendant had similarly stolen a crossbody bag worth $606 while transiting in Singapore.
The defendant’s lawyer pleaded on his behalf, stating that the defendant suffers from alcohol use disorder and believed that he only committed the crime after drinking alcohol on the plane.
The lawyer argued that the stolen items were not all very expensive, the defendant had the means to pay, and he did not know why he chose to steal. The defendant has now fully compensated for all losses.
The lawyer also mentioned that as a result of this case, the defendant is unable to return to his home country and will likely lose his job, pleading for leniency from the judge.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the Australian defendant, Slade (45), faced a total of 10 theft charges. On Friday (31st), he pleaded guilty to three of them. The judge took the remaining charges into consideration and sentenced him to 10 days in jail.
According to the case details, the defendant arrived at Terminal 2 of Singapore Changi Airport at 3:17pm on September 2 this year. He was scheduled to catch another flight to the Maldives that night at 8:45pm.
At around 7:30pm that night, the defendant went to branded travel goods store Tumi, took a suitcase worth $1,045 from the shelf, and left without paying. The act was caught on the store’s CCTV.
Later that evening, he also stole a set of pink Victoria’s Secret pajamas worth $113, two pairs of Oakley sunglasses each worth more than $340, a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $365, a brown Adidas bag worth $81, and a Starbucks insulated tumbler worth $52.
Other items he stole included a luggage tag, five bracelets, and a black Hard Rock Cafe baseball cap.
After a sales assistant from one of the stores reported the theft, police found the defendant at the departure boarding area at 8:05pm. Upon investigation, they discovered his involvement in the thefts, and all the stolen items were found in his luggage.
Further police investigation revealed that on July 28 this year, at 8:04am, the defendant had similarly stolen a crossbody bag worth $606 while transiting in Singapore.
The defendant’s lawyer pleaded on his behalf, stating that the defendant suffers from alcohol use disorder and believed that he only committed the crime after drinking alcohol on the plane.
The lawyer argued that the stolen items were not all very expensive, the defendant had the means to pay, and he did not know why he chose to steal. The defendant has now fully compensated for all losses.
The lawyer also mentioned that as a result of this case, the defendant is unable to return to his home country and will likely lose his job, pleading for leniency from the judge.