The Police have arrested 2 men and 2 women, aged between 26 and 31, for their suspected involvement in a series of shop thefts island wide.
On 15 September 2018 at 3.13pm, the Police were alerted by a store manager that items had been stolen from a retail outlet along Pasir Ris Close.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identities of the suspects and arrested them along Chin Swee Road on 16 September 2018. More than 800 items, including branded apparel, that are believed to have been stolen, were recovered. The items have an estimated total value of about S$26,000.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the four suspects belong to a foreign crime syndicate and had committed shop theft at multiple retail outlets island wide.
The four suspects will be charged in court on 18 September 2018 with theft in dwelling with common intention under Section 380 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they will be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
The Police would like to commend the vigilance of the store manager who alerted Police to the case of shop theft. The Police do not tolerate foreign crime syndicates looking to operate in Singapore. Those found doing so will be prosecuted in accordance to the fullest extent of with the law.
The Police would also like to remind retailers to remain vigilant against shop thieves. Retailers are advised to adopt the following measures:
- Ensure a good line of sight for the displays by using an appropriate shop layout;
- Display advisory posters or signage against shop theft;
- Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations (eg. near cashier counters);
- Install CCTVs with recording system at the entrance/exit of the store to capture the facial features of shoppers; and
Deploy adequate security personnel to patrol the premises in luminous vests for increased visual deterrence effect.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
17 September 2018 @ 4:00 PM