Inflight theft

[Quickstatus]

What's the incidence of inflight theft? What makes an inflight theft more likely. What can the traveller do to mitigate it?

Here is a Starter story

 

[Flyerwin]

I guess lock your hand luggage inflight? I don't do this, but you could...

 

[clifford]

Just have your valuables (if you have any) in your personal item under the seat in front or similar. That's what I tend to do. But then don't leave this item on the plane (which I have done, but with a happy ending).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You wonder how they managed to do the stealing in such a short flight when everyone would have been awake??

Heard/read several stories of theft on longer or overnight flights when pax are snoozing.

But this is quite something!!

Apparently there are organised gangs who fly certain routes, quite lucrative.

 

[Quickstatus]

As several passengers share an overhead it can be easy for a thief of just open and start rummaging without anyone noticing - especially when owner of hand luggage goes to lavatory.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As several passengers share an overhead it can be easy for a thief of just open and start rummaging without anyone noticing - especially when owner of hand luggage goes to lavatory.

Logistics wise, sure. But in terms of being clandestine and not wanting to be caught/identified! Seems brazen on such a short flight!

 

[offshore171]

O

Post in thread 'Strangest (weirdest) in-flight passenger antics?'

May 15, 2025

Quite some years ago, I was on a Swiss long haul flight from Singapore (I think?) to Zurich.

During the flight they brought a duty free trolley through the cabin, selling, amongst other things, some reasonably expensive watches.

I thought nothing of it, but several hours later, when the cabin was dark and everyone asleep, there was commotion!

Several flight attendants were frantically scanning the cabin with torches. They zeroed in on a particular fellow sitting in a window seat not far from where we were.

He had stolen a watch off the trolley while they were serving a customer and...

• offshore171

• 
• 

 

[Daveller]

Yeah I watched a similar story from YouTube - Singapore Crime tv show. It was interesting to see that there were only one theft on board but it’s not… actually two thefts on tigerair.

 

[dajop]

Seems to more effect routes Into countries where it’s common for people to move cash to. Thus it is not uncommon on routes to Singapore from various parts of Asia (eg Indonesia, China, India, Myanmar). Also I believe Dubai from certain countries as well.

 

[Quickstatus]

Apparently there are organised gangs who fly certain routes, quite lucrative.

A quick google search bring up some stories about inflight theft syndicates. I don't know if it is more prevalent on certain routes ? Or certain airlines?

Here is one at random :

 

[SeatBackForward]

IF you think about the entire journey, there are quite a few "Vulernable" points along the way

• At security where your bags could easily be collected by mistake by someone else
• Ever left your carry on bag near your seat at the gate/lounge?
• as this article points out during the flight when things are quiet, or even while buys when bags are being stowed away
• At the baggage carousel where there is zero checks that a bag is collected by its rightful owner

Personally it's that last one that would keep me awake, once they take your bag and walk out, there's very little you can do to recover. And it's worse at Australian domestic ports where anybody can access the carousels directly off the street.

 

[Flyerwin]

I do leave my luggage unattended all the time in the lounge. I assume there is CCTV everywhere. Never had an issue.

 

[dajop]

Personally it's that last one that would keep me awake, once they take your bag and walk out, there's very little you can do to recover. And it's worse at Australian domestic ports where anybody can access the carousels directly off the street.

You’re probably overthinking it. There’s always a risk of bags being deliberately or inadvertently taken from carousels. Many of these syndicates are mainly looking for quick cash, jewellery and perhaps some cards as a bonus. There’s all of our small amounts of cash and cards that add up, but there’s a lot of cash that gets moved across borders so it will be out of reach of their particular government. Thus carry on tends to be more of a target.

In Singapore I often change money over at Mustafa’s (24hr dept store) FX desk and always surprises me the wads and wads of cash people exchange.

 

[Quickstatus]

I assume there is CCTV everywhere

Except for aircraft cabins
(What about galley cameras)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You’re probably overthinking it. There’s always a risk of bags being deliberately or inadvertently taken from carousels. Many of these syndicates are mainly looking for quick cash, jewellery and perhaps some cards as a bonus. There’s all of our small amounts of cash and cards that add up, but there’s a lot of cash that gets moved across borders so it will be out of reach of their particular government. Thus carry on tends to be more of a target.

In Singapore I often change money over at Mustafa’s (24hr dept store) FX desk and always surprises me the wads and wads of cash people exchange.

I’d like to know where, and when, bags arrive at the carousel before passengers!!

I’m booking to go there!

I can’t remember the last time i got to the carousel - domestically - and the bags were already there, and hence the possibility of theft.

 

[SeatBackForward]

bags were already there, and hence the possibility of theft.

I don't think it's limited to that scenario. Anyone could just grab any bag off the carousel and swiftly leave. Would you even realise your bag had gone ?

 

[JohnK]

Carry valuables especially money on your person at all times.

This is not a difficult concept to understand. Anyway....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think it's limited to that scenario. Anyone could just grab any bag off the carousel and swiftly leave. Would you even realise your bag had gone ?

I think so! (Touch wood!!)

At least domestically, everyone arrives at the carousel well before the first bag comes out. Most people are keeping a beedy eye out hoping their bag is one of the first!

I’m guessing it would be a pretty big game of chance, too, to take a random bag. It could be filled with nothing valuable.

 

[Denali]

I mentioned this on another thread but late May another pax very strongly insisted that she was missing a bag, had 3 FAs looking around her seat and when checking the overhead, they started opening my carryon. They were looking for a blue bag but my carryon is grey. Mr Denali was quick to say it was my bag but he also gave the permission to look. I know no one had opened the overhead since we put it our bags there and closed it so allowed it, once I understood what was happening

The pax was older and needed a lot of care and seemed to misplace a few things during her flight so I questioned if the bag she was looking for even existed

 

[Quickstatus]

Carry valuables especially money on your person at all times.

What if the valuables weight 10kg?