🔥 Trending Chinatown Diamond Heist: Tourist Jailed for Stealing S$200,000 Gem

A significant diamond heist occurred in Singapore's Chinatown on June 19, 2026, involving two tourists who attempted to steal a high-value diamond from a jewellery store ¹⁶⁷.

Details of the Heist

The incident involved two men who entered Singapore via Changi Airport with the specific intention of stealing a 4.95-carat diamond from Dianoche, a jewellery store located in Chinatown ¹³⁹. The diamond was valued at approximately S$200,000 to S$235,000 (around US$154,000) ¹²⁴⁸.

The method used was a "switch-and-swap" technique ². One of the men, identified as a 41-year-old tourist, replaced the genuine diamond with a counterfeit one that had been commissioned in India to match the original ³⁶⁹. This swap reportedly took place during a viewing at the jewellery store along Kreta Ayer Road at approximately 3:40 PM ⁹. One account states that one of the men spat out the fake diamond to facilitate the swap ⁶⁹.

Arrest and Aftermath

Following a police report made by the jewellery store, both men were arrested at Changi Airport Terminal 3 within three hours of the theft ⁴². The stolen diamond was reportedly hidden in one of the partner's mouths ³⁴⁶.

One of the tourists has since been jailed for the theft ³⁴⁶. The swift apprehension highlights the effectiveness of Singaporean law enforcement in responding to such incidents.

It is important to note that there was also a separate, unrelated incident in New York City's Chinatown involving a US$200,000 jewellery heist around March 2026, which was an armed robbery ⁵¹⁰. However, the primary focus of the recent news is on the Singapore incident.