Two Indian Women Caught Stealing at Singapore’s Changi Airport

SINGAPORE — Two Indian women have been caught stealing items from shops at Singapore‘s Changi Airport while in transit on June 2. Goenka Simran, 29, and Garg Prasha, 30, were apprehended for theft during their brief stopover before heading to Bali.

Goenka Simran was sentenced to eight days in jail after pleading guilty to a charge of theft in a dwelling. She had flown in from Kolkata and arrived at the airport before her connecting flight. At approximately 1:40 PM, she entered the Furla store located in Terminal 3, where she stole a yellow purse valued at more than SGD 300, placing it into her luggage trolley before leaving without paying. In addition, she admitted to stealing a bottle of perfume worth over SGD 200 from a cosmetics store in Terminal 2.

During her sentencing, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan noted, “She was supposed to be in Singapore for only 10 hours, but she decided to help herself to the goods worth more than $500 in total during that time.”

Meanwhile, Garg Prasha received a fine of SGD 700. She was also in transit from India and had been browsing the Charles & Keith store in Terminal 2 around 7 AM when she took a black haversack bag valued at over SGD 80, concealing it in her trolley. An employee noticed her actions and alerted the police, who arrested her shortly after.

Judge Tan commented on Garg’s situation, stating, “The only saving grace was that the bag was recovered, but she has been effectively caught red-handed.”

Both women, while knowing each other, were confirmed not to be part of a theft syndicate. Singaporean law imposes strict penalties for theft, allowing for a jail term of up to three years, fines, or both. The women’s cases highlight the serious consequences of theft, even during short layovers at the airport.