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

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[Bjet]

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.