Australian woman arrested at Singapore Changi Airport over $385 supplement theft

Authorities said the theft took place on April 14 at Terminal 1, but the suspect had already left Singapore before she could be questioned. The missing item, valued at S$507.30, was reported on May 7 after staff at the Guardian store noticed it was gone from the display shelf, The Straits Times reported.

Using CCTV footage, investigators identified the woman, who was allegedly seen leaving the store without paying. When she returned to Singapore on Nov. 2 for another flight, she was arrested while in transit, The Star reported.

Police said the woman will be charged on Nov. 12 with theft in dwelling, an offense that carries up to seven years in jail, a fine, or both.

The case comes as shop theft continues to rise in Singapore. Police recorded 2,097 such cases in the first half of 2025, up from 2,013 in the same period last year.

In 2024, shop theft was the country’s most common physical crime, with 4,237 cases, a 7.6% increase from 2023.