Hong Kong police and airlines join forces to tackle soaring rate of thefts from overhead lockers
Cabin crew play vital role in detecting light-fingered passengers on planes flying into the city
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 23 December, 2015, 11:29pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 23 December, 2015, 11:29pm
Christy Leung and Danny Lee
The force would strengthen intelligence exchange with airlines and hold more crime prevention seminars with air hostesses. Photo: Nora Tam
The police and airlines have joined forces to combat the soaring number of in-flight thefts on Hong Kong-bound planes.
By the end of October there had been 67 reports of thefts aboard flights into Hong Kong, with HK$4.83 million stolen. That compares with 48 cases and losses of HK$2.61 million in the whole of 2014.
Chief Inspector Kelvin Ip Chun-wing of the airport district’s crime unit said at least one-third of the cases were discovered by flight attendants.
“The thieves change modus operandi all the time,” said Ip.
“Stewardesses play an important role. Many of the cases were caught by attentive stewardesses before the mile-high criminals succeeded.”
Ip said that in the absence of cameras on board, cabin crew were vital witnesses in bringing the gangs to justice. The force would strengthen intelligence exchange with airlines and hold more crime prevention seminars with air hostesses.
Ip said most offenders were from Southeast Asia and they struck when the cabin lights were dimmed after meal time.
He appealed to travellers to look after their property and not put cash inside the luggage cabin.
Ian Finnimore, a 49-year-old victim, came forward to the Post after his US$7,200 cash bundle, in US$100 notes, was replaced with US$1 notes during an Emirates flight from Iraq to Hong Kong last month. He only discovered the blended bills when he arrived in Macau straight after the flight.
“I had a simple letter envelope with US$100 bills,” he said. “I noticed in Macau I had a stack of bills that started and ended with US$100 bills but was filled with US$1 in between.”
Finnimore put the money in an inner zippered pocket of a backpack and stored it in the overhead locker. He said his seat row was empty and the flight was only 30 per cent occupied. He did not notice the locker being opened during the entire journey.
“You would notice if your envelope was empty. But how often will you fan through them to make sure the bills are the same?”
Cecilia Fung, a Dragonair stewardess for six years, said she paid special attention to groups that entered the aircraft together but sat far apart.
“If we see the suspect searching someone’s bag, we cannot confront him on whether it is his bag, as it sounds very rude,” said Fung.
“Instead we ask if he needs help, to alert the passengers around.”
Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines both said they required cabin crew to receive mandatory inflight security training and follow procedures when handling in-flight thefts.
“Cabin crew are advised to keep an eye on abnormal or suspicious passenger behaviour, and are given guidance on identifying suspected theft,” said a Hong Kong Airlines spokeswoman.
“We report concerning cases to the police and provide support to their investigation when necessary.”
Hong Kong Airlines also said it kept in close communication with Hong Kong Airport Police by joining sharing sessions on overhead locker theft.
