14 news
Monday, November 4 2013 THENEWPAPER THENEWPAPER Monday, November 4 2013
Trend Since the first few cases of inflight
theft emerged here in December 2011,
noticed inflight thieves have proven to be a
scourge of airlines.
early Singapore’s Airport Police Division
noticed the trend early last year
last year and their investigation revealed the
culprits were from Henan province
in China. TNP’s queries to law
Nipped in the bud
S’pore wants to curb growing
menace of inflight thefts
For them, inflight service means
helping themselves to someone
else’s things while that person is
asleep during a flight.
The first few cases on inflight theft
emerged here in December 2011 and the
problem has since proved to be a grow-
ing scourge of airlines.
The number of such thefts have been
growing so rapidly that it prompted Dis-
trict Judge Christopher Koh to declare
in September, as he sentenced eight
Chinese nationals for the crime:“These
despicable acts must be nipped in the
bud before they get out of hand.”
On Monday, another culprit was
Number of cases
SINGAPORE
1
2011 21
43
2012 71
39
2013 30 First 7 months
of 2013
It was reported in July that of
the 26 arrested this year, 22
were from Henan. Of the 36
arrested last year, 29 were
from Henan.
enforcement agencies in Hong Kong
and Macau revealed the same.
phenomenon here, it appears Henan
natives have been committing such
offences in China for at least five
years.
organised crime said it is common for
Report by RENNIE WHANG
wrennie@sph.com.sg
hauled to court. Chinese national Liu
Yanjun, was jailed nine months for
stealing a bag on a Tiger Airways flight
on Oct 19.
Singapore’s Airport Police Division
noticed the trend early last year and
their investigation revealed the culprits
were from Henan province in China.
Why Henan? The New Paper contact-
ed law enforcement agencies and aca-
demics familiar with such crimes in Ma-
cau, Hong Kong, London and the US.
NOT NEW IN HENAN
It appears that Henan natives have been
committing such offences in China for
HONG KONG
First 9 months
of 2013
A Hong Kong police spokesman
said analysis indicated a
relatively high proportion of
arrested offenders originating
from Henan.
people from one part of China
to venture out and commit
While inflight theft is a new
the same type of crime. This is
because they learn from each
As the saying goes, “Tu zhi bu chi wo bian
cao” (rabbits don’t eat the grass by its
other, and a person with money
tends to be regarded as a hero burrows). Committing crime in the village is
Academics familiar with Chinese
in his village, no matter the
means of obtaining the wealth,
not acceptable, but going outside to do it is.
—Macau sociologist Jianhua Zhu on why Singapore is not seen as a
one of them said. distant target for these criminals
flight theft cases in the last two years.
A sociologist at Saint Francis Univer-
sity in the US, Dr Lening Zhang, said the
densely populated province has a much
lower level of industrialisation and ur-
banisation than other provinces on the
east coast of China.
12 Saturday, July 20 2013
taking off
News
In-flight thefts
REPORT: RENNIE WHANG
wrennie@sph.com.sg
A
years.
●
THE NEW PAPER
DPP calls for higher deterrent sentences as
more passengers report belongings stolen
NOTHER man has pleaded guilty to
stealing on board a plane, adding to
a significant trend over the past two
Last year, 36 people were arrested for the
crime; the number is 26 for this year so far. (See
report below.)
When The New Paper first broke the story on
in-flight theft in May last year, 18 reports had al-
ready been received by the police.
Yesterday, the court heard that Yue Liangfu,
32, was on board a SilkAir flight from Singapore
to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh last
month when he opened the overhead compart-
ment and took an elderly passenger’s trolley bag
to his seat two rows away.
Yue rummaged through the 69-year-old Cam-
bodian man’s bag before placing it back overhead.
A majority of the population rely on
He pleaded guilty to stealing the bag on July 12
and was due to be sentenced yesterday.
But Deputy Public Prosecutor Krystle Chiang,
who previously sought three months’ jail for the
man, asked for 12 months’ jail.
The highest jail term for such an offence has
been three months.
The significant rise in the number of such cas-
their limited lands or small farms for
es in the last two years suggests that court sen-
tences have not sufficiently deterred these cases,
she argued.
Police have assessed there is one or more or-
JULY 20, THE NEW PAPER
ganised crime syndicates targeting Singapore-
controlled aircraft, with offenders likely to be
working in pairs and targeting cash. (See info-
graphics, right.)
a living, but many residents have gone
The most recent case was reported on Wednes-
day.
A male suspect was seen taking a victim’s sling
to large cities for a better life, said Dr
Zhang.
News
“Going out to get rich may have be-
Thieves take to the skies
come a common belief in the province, DO’S & DON’TS OF TRAVELLING
WITH YOUR MONEY
no matter what type of means could be Don’t:
used.”
Store your wallet
and other valuables
inside a bag in the
overhead compartment.
It’s quite common for people from
one part of China to venture out and
Syndicates send
members on flights to
commit the same type of crime, said
steal from passengers
REPORT: RENNIE WHANG
wrennie@sph.com.sg
University of Macau sociologist Jianhua MAY
E 28, 2012, THE NEW PAPER
VEN as you relish how much fun you expect to
have on holiday, some of your fellow plane pas-
sengers may be relishing how much money they
would get stealing from you.
They belong to a syndicate suspected to have been
sending three to four of its members on some flights to
steal from passengers, said Singapore police.
And with the number of such thefts spiking since
at least five years. Xu.
last year, you might want to be extra careful, especially
now that the school holidays have begun.
Last Tuesday, The New Paper (TNP) reported that
Chinese national Fu Xinping (right) was jailed four
weeks for stealing from passengers on Singapore Air-
line (SIA) flight SQ866 bound for Hong Kong on April
23.
In 2008, a Henan native working in
A passenger, Mr Han Tian, 27, had put his sling bag
in the overhead compartment and had gone to the
toilet when Fu removed the bag.
Fu stole US$800 (S$1,025) and HK$3,000 (S$495)
from an envelope inside the bag.
ROBBERY
Responding to TNP’s queries, police revealed a trou-
bling trend of more thefts being committed on planes.
Eighteen such reports have already been received so
Shenyang, Liaoning province, reported-
far this year; there was only one report last year.
The thefts occur mostly on regional flights, said the
police.
In an e-mail reply, Commander of Airport Police
Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police
(DAC) Sam Tee said investigations revealed that some
of the thieves are suspected to be syndicate members
from China working in groups of three to four on a
ly hatched such a plan with two of his Examples are migrant workers from
flight.
Said DAC Tee: “They would strike during boarding
operations or in-flight when passengers are asleep or
using the toilets. Their goal is to steal cash which have
been kept by passengers inside their travel or laptop
gambling mates. Guangxi committing robbery from their
Over six days, the three shuttled motorcycles in Guangdong, people
between airports in Beijing, Sheng- from Hunan blackmailing local officials
yang, Shenzhen and Nanjing, taking 10 and those in Hong Kong and Macau with
flights and stealing about $18,400 (RMB doctored pornographic images.
90,000) cash. “People learn from each other,” Dr
Such incidents have been on the rise Xu said. “During Chinese New Year,
in China. they go back to their villages.
A Hubei Television report in May, “People don’t care about the means
quoting sources from Harbin Taiping In- (by which it was obtained), as long as
ternational Airport, said there has been you have money you can show off to vil-
a manifold increase in the number of in- lagers.
MACAU
Police advisory
Passengers are reminded to:
− l Be cautious
30 Feb − Sept
2012 l Keep cash or valuables on you
76 First half
of 2013
A Macau police
instead of placing them inside the
overhead luggage compartments
spokesman said
offenders were mainly
from the Huanan region,
which includes Henan.
bag from the overhead compartment while the
victim was sleeping.
The victim later found 1,500 yuan (S$310)
missing. But the suspect had left Singapore and
could not be arrested.
DPP Chiang noted that such offences are hard
to detect and prosecute as witnesses and offend-
ers often leave the country easily soon after arriv-
ing in Singapore.
“This explains the fact that the conviction fig-
ures are significantly lower than the arrest fig-
ures, which are in turn lower than the number of
cases reported,” she said.
Chinese nationals
She added the majority of suspects and of-
fenders are Chinese nationals.
THE WAY THEY STEAL
2
Out of the 26 accused persons arrested this questioned, the
year, 24 were from China (22 from Henan prov- loot will not be
ince, one from Jiangxi province and one from found on him. In
If away
cash,
passes it
to his partner
so thatOnce
Hubei province). some cases, the
Of the 36 accused persons arrested last year, police have found
29 were from Henan province, four from Jiangxi cash in parts
province and one from Hubei province. of the aircraft
In all cases, those accused were first-time of- toilet, which
fenders in Singapore. could be a sign
DPP Chiang said investigations have revealed
the travel patterns of the offenders to be similar.
that the criminals
They usually travel as passengers on round abandoned the
flights from the Chinese mainland, Macau and loot for fear of
Hong Kong to Singapore, and usually stop in being arrested.
Singapore for transit for a day or less before leav-
ing for other South-east Asian countries such as
Cambodia and Indonesia.
Some of the accused persons denied commit-
ting the offence during police investigations. For
instance, they told the police they took the wrong
bag in a fit of grogginess after waking.
Yue’s sentencingThe first personforwill
is scheduled remove baggage stowed
Tuesday.
away in an overhead compartment and take it
back to his seat or a seat away from the
overhead compartment to rummage for cash.
Once he is through rummaging the baggage, he
will return it to the overhead compartment.
NUMBERS
SOARING
Reports
Arrests
Convictions
The number of persons convicted is smaller than the number of persons arrested because
in many cases, there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a court prosecution.
bags stowed in the overhead compartments of the
aircraft.”
He added that Airport Police have been working
closely with airlines and this has led to arrests.
DAC Tee added: “Passengers can do their part by
exercising caution and to keep their cash and valuables
with them while on board the aircraft.”
Other reported thefts on flights follow a pattern -
money taken from bags kept in overhead compart-
ments. On March 25, a 41-year-old man on board a
Singapore Airlines (SIA)
flight from Jakarta to Sin-
gapore was arrested for
taking US$5,000 from a fel-
low passenger’s wallet,
said the police.
Arrested
The wallet was inside
his laptop bag and stowed
overhead. After searching
through the wallet, the
man placed it back in the
bag and put it back in the
compartment.
A 30-year-old man, be-
NABBED: Fu Xinping lieved to be an accom-
was jailed for stealing. plice, was also arrested.
On April 21, two Chi-
nese nationals on board separate SIA flights were arrest-
ed.
During one flight, from Hong Kong to Singapore, a
38-year-old man allegedly removed a fellow passen-
ger’s laptop bag from an overhead compartment and
searched it.
An SIA spokesman said the airline was ready, upon
request, to help any passenger who wanted to file a
theft report.
He added that if the theft occurred mid-air, cabin
crew would first clarify with the affected customer on
whether the missing item was lost before or during the
flight.
If it happened during the flight, the crew would
inform ground staff and the authorities when they
reached their destination.
news 15
The first person will remove baggage stowed
he finds
in an overhead compartment and take it
backheto his seat or a seat away from the
overhead compartment to rummage for cash.
if he ishe is through rummaging the baggage, he
will return it to the overhead compartment.
deposited in the compartments of the aircraft
toilet, a sign that the criminals have abandoned
the loot for fear of being arrested.
1
Working in
pairs, the
first person
removes the
baggage in
the overhead
compartment
and takes it back
to his seat or a
seat away from
the compartment
to rummage
for cash. Once
he is done, he
returns it to the
compartment.
If he successfully finds some cash, he will pass it
to his partner so that if he is questioned, the loot
will not be found on him.
In some cases, the police have found cash
“Such a person with money tends to
be regarded as a hero. He can donate to
the local community, build schools — a
kind of psychological compensation for
how he got the money.
“People are proud of the way they
make money.”
But Henan itself has an unsavoury
reputation in China, said Mr Peng Wang,
a researcher in Chinese organised crime
If he successfully finds some cash, he will pass it
TNP ILLUSTRATION: CELESTINO GULAPA
to his partner so that if he is questioned, the loot
will not be found on him. THE NEW PAPER Monday, May 28 2012
●
7
In some cases, theNewspolice have found cash
deposited in theThieves
compartments
takeoftothe
theaircraft
skies
at King’s College London.
toilet, a sign that the criminals have abandoned
Do:
DO’S & DON’TS OF TRAVELLING
WITH YOUR MONEY
the loot for fear of being arrested.
Don’t:
Keep money and
wallet on your
person.
Store your wallet
and other valuables Stow bag
inside a bag in the in overhead
overhead compartment. compartment
nearest your
seat or in
front of you.
Use lock for
hand-held baggage. TNP ILLUSTRATION:
CEL GULAPA
He said there was a popular saying
Syndicates send bags stowed in the overhead compartments of the
aircraft.”
SIA, Jetstar and SilkAir said they encouraged all pas-
sengers to be responsible for their own belongings. A
members on flights to
THE NEW PAPER, MAY 28 2012
He added that Airport Police have been working SilkAir spokesman also advised passengers to consider
closely with airlines and this has led to arrests. using locks for their cabin baggage.
steal from passengers DAC Tee added: “Passengers can do their part by
exercising caution and to keep their cash and valuables
Tiger Airways declined to comment.
Senior lecturer of aviation management and scienc-
with them while on board the aircraft.” es at Temasek Polytechnic, Mr Gary Ho, said theft on
REPORT: RENNIE WHANG Other reported thefts on flights follow a pattern - aeroplanes by criminal gangs was unsurprising. He
wrennie@sph.com.sg money taken from bags kept in overhead compart- advised travellers to avoid putting their wallets or cash
ments. On March 25, a 41-year-old man on board a
E
in overhead compartments, and stow bags in the com-
VEN as you relish how much fun you expect to Singapore Airlines (SIA)
2011 2012 2013 (so far)
partments next to or in front of them.
have on holiday, some of your fellow plane pas- flight from Jakarta to Sin-
sengers may be relishing how much money they gapore was arrested for Said Mr Ho: “It’s common sense – anything that is
would get stealing from you. taking US$5,000 from a fel- really valuable, keep it on you. When people board
They belong to a syndicate suspected to have been low passenger’s wallet, planes, they somehow seem to have a false sense of
sending three to four of its members on some flights to said the police. security. You wouldn’t leave your bag alone on MRT
steal from passengers, said Singapore police. trains or buses, right?”
And with the number of such thefts spiking since Arrested
last year, you might want to be extra careful, especially
now that the school holidays have begun. The wallet was inside
Last Tuesday, The New Paper (TNP) reported that his laptop bag and stowed
Chinese national Fu Xinping (right) was jailed four overhead. After searching
One 43 35
weeks for stealing from passengers on Singapore Air- through the wallet, the
man placed it back in the
line (SIA) flight SQ866 bound for Hong Kong on April
23.A bag and put it back in the
THE NEW PAPER Monday, May 28 2012
passenger, Mr Han Tian, 27, had put his sling bag compartment.
in the overhead compartment and had gone to the A 30-year-old man, be-
toilet when Fu removed the bag. NABBED: Fu Xinping
● lieved to be an accom-
Fu stole US$800 (S$1,025) and HK$3,000 (S$495) was jailed for stealing. plice, was also arrested.
from an envelope inside the bag. On April 21, two Chi-
Responding to TNP’s queries, police revealed a trou- nese nationals on board separate SIA flights were arrest-
bling trend of more thefts being committed on planes. ed.During
One 36 26
Eighteen such reports have already been received so one flight, from Hong Kong to Singapore, a
far this year; there was only one report last year. 38-year-old man allegedly removed a fellow passen-
The thefts occur mostly on regional flights, said the ger’s laptop bag from an overhead compartment and
police. searched it.
In an e-mail reply, Commander of Airport Police An SIA spokesman said the airline was ready, upon
Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police request, to help any passenger who wanted to file a
(DAC) Sam Tee said investigations revealed that some theft report.
that goes: “Fang huo, Fang dao, Fang
of the thieves are suspected to be syndicate members He added that if the theft occurred mid-air, cabin
from China working in groups of three to four on a crew would first clarify with the affected customer on
None 17
whether the missing item was lost before or during the
17
flight.
Said DAC Tee: “They would strike during boarding flight.
operations or in-flight when passengers are asleep or If it happened during the flight, the crew would
using the toilets. Their goal is to steal cash which have inform ground staff and the authorities when they
been kept by passengers inside their travel or laptop reached their destination.
Note:
Do:
Henan (Guard against fire, theft and
Keep money and
wallet on your
person. Henan people)”.
Some Chinese media reports have
Stow bag
in overhead
compartment
nearest your
seat or in
front of you.
cast Henan natives in a poor light for at
least the last 10 years, said Dr Yu Hong,
Use lock for
hand-held baggage. TNP ILLUSTRATION:
CEL GULAPA
SIA, Jetstar and SilkAir said they encouraged all pas-
sengers to be responsible for their own belongings. A
who is a research fellow at the Nation-
SilkAir spokesman also advised passengers to consider
using locks for their cabin baggage.
Tiger Airways declined to comment.
Senior lecturer of aviation management and scienc-
es at Temasek Polytechnic, Mr Gary Ho, said theft on
aeroplanes by criminal gangs was unsurprising. He
advised travellers to avoid putting their wallets or cash
al University of Singapore’s East Asian
in overhead compartments, and stow bags in the com-
partments next to or in front of them.
Said Mr Ho: “It’s common sense – anything that is
really valuable, keep it on you. When people board
planes, they somehow seem to have a false sense of
security. You wouldn’t leave your bag alone on MRT
trains or buses, right?”
Institute.
CAMPAIGN
The situation even prompted Chinese
officials to launch a campaign about
four to five years ago, to rebuild the
province’s reputation and promote
them as hardworking people, he said.
While police here believe there is one
or more organised crime syndicates tar-
geting Singapore-controlled aircraft, a
Hong Kong police spokesman said there
is no concrete evidence to prove that
the culprits were known to each other
or that they operated by the same syn-
dicate.
TNP ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA
l Be wary of passengers opening up
overhead compartments, retrieving
baggage, and rummaging through
them during the flight
l Alert the cabin crew immediately to
such behaviour