Bacchus Marsh Grammar students back in Melbourne after Singapore arrest at Victoria’s Secret

A group of Melbourne private schoolgirls have quietly arrived home after five of them allegedly stole expensive lingerie and shoes from high-end stores in Singapore.

Five students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar’s Maddingley campus, west of Melbourne’s CBD, flew home on Saturday after they were dramatically arrested outside a Singaporean Victoria’s Secret on November 13.

The girls flew home with their 13 other classmates after leaving Singapore at 12.30am (AEDT) on Saturday. 

Principal Andrew Neal said it only mattered the girls were ‘home on time’.

Singaporean police questioned seven girls and arrested five at a Victoria’s Secret after they allegedly stole underwear and Crocs shoes (pictured, the 2018 Victoria’s Secret runway)

Principal Andrew Neal (above) said the arrested girls arrived back in Melbourne with their peers at the scheduled time

‘Everyone is here and they all came in on the same flight,’ he told the Herald Sun.

‘All matters have been resolved and the girls were allowed to proceed to the airport with no further action.

‘It was a bit delicate but this is a good outcome.’

The principal said he would make no further comment until he spoke with the girls. 

Singaporean police questioned seven girls and arrested five last Sunday after CCTV footage emerged of them allegedly stealing underwear from lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret and shoes from Crocs.

The girls were pulled aside by police while they were still inside the Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road, a popular retail district, and brought back to the Victoria’s Secret store before their arrest.

A letter to parents (above) boasted the $3,300 Singaporean trip and netball competition as a ‘cultural experience’

The girls were arrested at the Mandarin Gallery (above) on Orchard Road, a popular shopping district in Singapore

They were held by police for 10 hours and eventually released back to their hotel at 3.30am.

With the assistance of teachers and supervisors, the girls then went back and forth from their accommodation to the police station for several days before they were permitted to fly home.

They faced up to three years in jail if found guilty of theft under Singapore’s ultra-harsh laws.

The students had arrived in Singapore on Saturday to participate in an eight-day international netball competition, the International Youth Netball Challenge. 

Bacchus Marsh Grammar has been running its Elite Netball Sports Camp program in Singapore for 11 years.

The $3,300 trip boasted ‘a number of friendly matches with the Singapore Sports School teams and possible other netball teams from visiting schools’ as well as a visit to the Singapore Zoo, Universal Studios and Singapore Flyer ferris wheel. 

Students were warned (above) by Bacchus Marsh Grammar they could face harsh penalties for committing ‘very serious offences’ while on the Singapore trip

All 18 girls arrived back at Melbourne Airport (above) on Saturday, almost a week after five were arrested

Parents were told the trip was ‘a cultural experience in Asia’ and would give students ‘education on travel and being an elite athlete’.

However, students were warned they could face harsh penalties for ‘very serious offences’ committed overseas.

Principal Neal previously praised the Singaporean police for how they handled the matter.

‘The police have been firm, fair and thorough and the school is appreciative of their professionalism,’ he said.

‘The girls are currently in the direct care of Bacchus Marsh Grammar school staff and we look forward to them returning with the group later in the week.

‘The school would like to thank the Australian Embassy staff in Singapore for the support of our staff in Singapore and their ongoing assistance in this matter.’

Police brought the five students back to the Victoria’s Secret they allegedly stole lingerie from before their arrest (pictured, a Victoria’s Secret storefront)