A WARNING to all plane passengers: On-board theft continues to be a problem among airlines worldwide. There has been an increase in thefts on inbound airliners that probably involves a crime syndicate that primarily stole credit cards from passengers.
To avoid being a victim of in-flight theft, keep your cash or valuables with you instead of placing them inside the overhead luggage compartments. Also be wary of passengers who are seen opening up overhead compartments and retrieving baggage and rummaging through them during the flight.
To ward off thieves, always keep a lock on any bags that remotely looks or feels valuable. The usual common sense precautions apply when travelling by plane.
When loading a bag into the overhead compartment, do so with zippers and pockets facing inwards. This means a would-be thief has to adjust your bag to access the zips, making his/her actions more noticeable.
Smaller items like wallets will ideally be kept on your person, but if that isn’t comfortable for prolonged periods of sitting, then keep them stored in a bag under your seat, placed at the very bottom so a would-be thief has to empty the entire contents to find it.
Those who are especially cautious may want to wrap their carry-on bag in saran wrap at one of the airport wrapping stations. It makes snatch-and-grab tactics significantly harder because of the need to get through the layers.
Experts also recommended that passengers stow their carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment across their seat rather than one directly above, as doing so allows for a direct line of sight. It’s easier to see who’s trying to get their hands on your bags.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) warned in 2012 that members of a Chinese crime syndicate were believed to be stealing money from the bags of passengers while they slept on flights to and from the country.
Travel insurance typically covers loss of money due to theft, according to the General Insurance Association of Singapore’s website.
Checks on travel insurance policy coverage by CNA found that while that is generally the case, the payout to policyholders is often only in the three-figure range.
The Premier tier of AIA’s Around The World Plus (II) plan offers a maximum payout of S$300 for stolen cash, extending to S$1,000 for stolen jewels.
NTUC Income’s TravelBliss Prestige tier equivalent has a maximum payout of S$500, with up to S$1,000 insured for stolen jewel.
Singlife’s Lite plan does not cover the loss of personal money, while its Prestige plan has a maximum payout of S$500 if cash goes missing.
Travellers should also note that when bringing physical currencies in and out of Singapore totalling above S$20,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency), it is required by law to submit a full and accurate report to the police.
Those who fail to do so may face a fine of up to S$50,000 or a jail term for up to three years or both. The amount of cash can also be seized and/or confiscated upon conviction. By Manny Palomar, PhD (EV Mail October 28-November 03, 2024 issue)
