Changi police waited for an American traveller’s return — then arrested him over perfume thefts
SINGAPORE, Oct 7 — The long arm of the law caught up with a 47-year-old American on September 25, about 10 months...
On Thursday, a 47-year-old American man will face charges for a series of perfume thefts at Singapore's Changi Airport, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The thefts occurred between November of the previous year and April of the current year, totaling nearly S$1,410 (US$1,102) in stolen perfume. The SPF first became aware of the incidents on November 5, 2025, after a retail assistant noticed a missing box of perfume from a shop's display shelf in Terminal 3's transit area.
Closed-circuit television footage revealed the American had stolen a S$331 perfume box at approximately 7:38pm on November 4, 2025. Additional investigations uncovered that he subsequently stole three more boxes of perfume, valued at S$646, from two shops in Terminal 2's transit area on the same day. Despite managing to identify the suspect, police found he had already left the country.
He returned to Changi Airport on April 24 to board a connecting flight, during which he allegedly stole two more boxes of perfume, valued at S$432, from two shops. The first theft occurred around 7:15am, and the second was six minutes later. After the second round of alleged thefts, the man left Singapore but was arrested on September 25 while transiting through the airport again.
He will be charged with five counts of theft in dwelling, with penalties including up to seven years in jail, a fine, or both.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
