Fri, 12 Jun 2026
Headlines:
Midair thief caught redhanded
Published on: Friday, August 09, 2024
Published on: Fri, Aug 09, 2024
By: Jessie Lee
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Midair thief caught redhanded
Avoid placing valuable items in the overhead compartments, advised a flight attendant. (Getty Images/iStockphoto file photo for general illustration)
Kota Kinabalu: A vigilant passenger helped thwart a theft that could have gone unnoticed on a recent flight in a dramatic incident shared online by an air stewardess.

The post on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu by @onelew said a passenger took a bag that did not belong to him and rummaged through its contents.

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The air stewardess with over 2,000 followers on the platform wanted to remind netizens to remain vigilant and safeguard their valuables, particularly when travelling. 

“Avoid placing valuable items in the overhead compartments,” she wrote.

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Recounting the incident, she said the suspect’s actions were fortunately spotted by a keen-eyed fellow traveller. 

“The observant lady, who had noticed that the bag belonged to someone else, quickly alerted the flight crew.

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“The victim was informed and discovered that the cash had indeed been stolen,” she said.

The alleged thief, while realising that he had been caught redhanded, attempted to "return" the money, yet he was met with immediate action from the crew.

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“I promptly notified the supervisor who then wrote a report to the captain.

“Security authorities were also contacted who waited at the plane door upon landing to deal with the situation.

“The matter was then further investigated as the man was taken by the security authorities,” @onelew wrote.
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