The Police have arrested a 51-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of theft from shopping trolleys and fraudulent use of credit cards.
On 6 May 2018, the Police received a report from a victim who found her handbag missing from her shopping trolley at a supermarket located along Marine Parade Road. She later discovered several unauthorised transactions were made with her credit card, which was in her missing handbag.
Through extensive follow-up investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the suspect and arrested him along Geylang Road on 15 May 2018 at about 4.30pm. Cash amounting to about $900/- and another person’s identification document, which he could not account for satisfactorily, were found in his possession and seized as case exhibits. He is also believed to be involved in other similar cases.
The suspect will be charged in court on 17 May 2018 with theft and cheating under Section 379 and Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, respectively. If convicted of theft, he shall be punished with a jail term which may extend to 3 years or a fine, or with both. If convicted of cheating, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years fine, and shall be liable to a fine.
The Police would like to take this opportunity to remind merchants and sales staff to exercise vigilance and adopt correct card acceptance procedures when processing credit card transactions. They should look out for the security features on the card face and if they are suspicious, they should contact their processing bank immediately for advice. Police would also like to remind members of the public to adopt the following crime prevention measures to safeguard their belongings:
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Avoid exposing cash, valuables, or jewellery in public areas as this might draw unnecessary attention;
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Avoid placing your wallet in your back pocket. Ensure that your bag is properly secured at all times. Cross-sling it in front or grasp it firmly while shopping or walking;
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Never leave your valuables unattended on trolleys or strollers while shopping. Unattended valuables are easy targets for would-be culprits;
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While having meals, never use valuables such as handphones to reserve seats. Arrange for someone to look after your valuables while ordering food;
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Do not be distracted by strangers creating a commotion, bumping into you or accidentally spilling something onto you. Check your valuables immediately if this happens; and,
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Do not adorn your children with excessive gold jewellery as they are easy targets for potential criminals.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 May 2018 @ 10:10 PM