A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight attendant is in hot water after she was allegedly caught red-handed stealing from a store in Japan and biting a man who tried to stop her.

The 33-year-old woman allegedly swiped six items, including bath towels, worth about 10,000 yen (US$66, S$89.75) from a store in Narita, Chiba prefecture on Nov. 6, according to local news site Chiba Nippo.

When a 51-year-old security guard confronted her and grabbed her by the neck, she bit his left arm and tried to run away, local news agency FNN reported.

To the police, the woman denied the shoplifting charges, claiming that she did not intend to steal the items and planned to pay for them later. She also claimed she resorted to biting so the security guard would let go of her neck.

SIA confirmed that one of its staff members was arrested in Japan, but declined to comment further as the matter is under investigation, CNA reported.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to the woman, who is subject to the laws in Japan.