Chinese man arrested for suspected theft on Dubai flight

A 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft after a passenger discovered his belongings had been stolen during a flight traveling from Dubai to Hong Kong.

Police received a report on Monday (Jun 23) that a male passenger found his backpack missing from the overhead compartment. 

Following a preliminary investigation, officers arrested a mainland man, who has been detained for further questioning. 

The case is being handled by the Airport District Criminal Investigation Team.

To combat in-flight theft, the Airport District has conducted educational campaigns to enhance public awareness and maintained a close connection with various airport stakeholders to strengthen intelligence-led enforcement.

Such measures include establishing a suspect database and gathering intelligence for analysis, as well as cooperating with airlines to identify high-risk flights and peak crime periods. 

Additionally, police reiterated that theft is a serious offense, and offenders may face a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.