Beware of Theft on Overnight Flights!

Be sure to lock up baggage in overhead compartments

A friend posted on social media that he and his family were robbed while on an overnight flight. 

Apparently it's not just one person, but several accomplices on the plane, where they wait until the lights are turned down and when the passengers are sleeping, go to the overhead compartments and take the victims' bags into the washroom to take cash, credit cards, or valuable items. Then they put the bags back into the overhead compartments.

In my friend's case, the airline staff witnessed the incident, and the suspect was arrested by airport security, but by that point, the money had already been passed on to someone else and not on the suspect.  

HK has seen a 164% rise in on board theft

The police told my friend that it is a syndicate operating from Macau, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Vietnam.

While my friend made a police report that took three hours, it is only then that the authorities can do something, but the suspect will probably be punished with a three-month sentence.

There has been a 164 percent increase in thefts on board flights to Hong Kong in the first eight months of the year. There were 132 recorded thefts (last year there were 92), and the largest case involved a passenger from Switzerland who lost a HK$4.16 million (US$535,320) watch on August 30.

Items stolen include cash, credit cards, luxury handbags, watches and jewellery. 

"Thieves usually search for and take valuable property such as cash, digital devices and luxury watches from unsecured baggage left unattended on passengers' seats or placed inside the overhead compartments," the Hong Kong Police force's spokesman said. 

Another source said the thieves worked in pairs, taking advantage of dimmed cabin lights and sleeping passengers.

Police advised travellers to be vigilant and keep and eye on their belongings and never leave items unattended. The force also urged passengers to check their belongings before disembarking and promptly report any lost items to flight attendants.

It was brave for my friend to post what happened to him, and warns others to be careful!