The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked the Ministry of Public Security to launch a full probe into a suspected in-flight theft ring operated by a Chinese-dominated group of foreigners, according to the CAAV’s leader Lai Xuan Thanh. 

Local aviation security officials have determined a group of approximately10 foreigners – most of whom are Chinese – who are suspected of thefts onboard various Vietnam Airlines commercial flights, Thanh told a recent meeting with the National Aviation Security Committee.   

“Thieves often pickpocket cash or other valuable things from carry-on bags of passengers when the passengers are asleep or not paying attention,” the CAAV’s director warned.

Le Truong Giang, a Vietnam Airlines spokesman, told Tuoi Tre that the thefts occurred on flight routes between Vietnam and destinations in Southeast Asia, particularly those from/to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, and Cambodia.

Giang said thefts have also taken place on several domestic flights from/to Cam Ranh airport in the central city of Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island off the southern province of Kien Giang. 

The spokesman added that the airline uncovered 28 cases in 2012 and 15 cases in 2013. But only in the first four months of this year, 11 theft cases were brought to light.

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, gives priority to crime prevention since police in Hong Kong have issued warnings about thefts on some flight routes to the special administrative region.

The airline advises passengers on flights to China, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia to keep a close watch on their hand luggage and not to put them in the wrong place.

Passengers are also recommended not to put their carry-on bags with valuables on the overhead baggage bins on planes or not to leave expensive items on their seats when they go to restroom.

Beware of theft on planes

In the latest case, security officials at Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat Airport detained a Chinese national who was caught stealing from another passenger on a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on April 30.

The man, Man Xin Gao, 41, committed the theft while on board the Vietnam Airlines flight VN257.

Man stole a handbag from a passenger and rummaged through it at the back of the plane.

A female passenger, who is a Vietnam Airlines flight attendant, taped his entire act with her camera before informing the flight crew.

According to the case file, Man’s passport showed that he has travelled many times to Southeast Asian countries. He usually stays for one day only in each country.

The April 30 theft is the fourth incident this year in which Chinese citizens have been caught stealing other passengers’ possessions aboard Vietnam Airlines planes.

On January 19, crewmembers on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Bangkok to HCMC witnessed two Chinese passengers, Zhang Giang and Ren Guanghan, both 41, stealing from another passenger.

The men initially denied the accusation, but after the crewmembers showed them a video recording that proved the theft, they pleaded guilty.

They were then added to the list of passengers for whom Vietnam Airlines will not provide transport services.  

In another in-flight case, three Chinese nationals were also deported from Vietnam after they were caught stealing money from another passenger on a Vietnam Airlines flight on January 16.

These thieves colluded with each other in an attempt to steal US$700 from an Indonesian passenger on flight VN630 from Indonesia to Vietnam.

An organized crime

Many airlines in Asia have repeatedly issued warnings about the in-flight theft aboard their commercial flights including long-route journeys from Hong Kong to European countries operated by Cathay Pacific or others from China and Taiwan to Hong Kong.

The pick-pocketed items are usually laptops, tablets, cell-phones and cash.

In September last year, a district court in Singapore sentenced eight Chinese nationals between 9 and 16 months behind bars for five separate thefts on planes which took place on SilkAir and Tiger Airways flights.

As many as 47 foreigners were arrested in Singapore in 2013 for committing thefts on flights from/to Singapore operated by Singapore Airlines, Tiger Airways, and Silk Air.

According to a representative of Changi airport in Singapore, 29 out of 36 people arrested in 2012 were Chinese nationals caught stealing on planes.

Investigations by Singapore police showed that the culprits behind the above in-flight theft cases were different groups of Chinese (3 to 4 people on each plane).

They stole valuable items and passed to their accomplices to avoid being arrested in case they were examined by security forces.

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