The Police will be charging five men and a woman, aged between 17 and 52, for their suspected involvement in separate cases of shop theft.
The details of the cases are as follows:
- On 9 December 2023 at 10.42am, a staff of a retail outlet within City Square Mall reported to the Police that a massage gun valued at $149.90 was stolen. Investigations later revealed that a 49-year-old man had allegedly stolen the item by concealing it in a black paper bag and left without making payment.
- On 13 October 2023 and 29 December 2023, the Police were alerted to two cases of shop theft at a supermarket and a retail outlet located within Bugis Junction respectively. Health supplements, a personal care product and a black shirt were stolen. The value of items stolen amounted to $216.50. A 52-year-old man was later established through investigations to be purportedly responsible for both occasions of alleged shop theft. The man had allegedly concealed the stolen items inside his bag before leaving the outlets.
- On 17 May 2024 at 2.17pm, the Police were alerted to a case of shop theft at a retail outlet located within Suntec City. Investigations revealed that a 40-year-old woman had allegedly stolen a black dress from the outlet and left without making payment. However, she was detained by the retail outlet’s staff. Further investigations revealed that the same woman allegedly stole a blouse from the same outlet on another occasion. The value of items stolen amounted to $117.80.
- On 18 May 2024 at 7.53pm, the Police were alerted to a case of shop theft at Mustafa Centre. Investigations revealed that two men, aged 17 and 19, allegedly stole four bottles of perfume with a total value of $369. The two men were detained by security officers when they attempted to leave.
- On 20 June 2024, at 5.20pm, the Police were alerted to a case of shop theft at a retail outlet located within Suntec City. Investigations revealed that a 24-year-old man had allegedly stolen a maple bonsai valued at $75 which he had concealed in his black tote bag before leaving the premises. The man was believed to be involved in two other similar cases of shop theft at the same retail outlet.
These six persons will be charged in court on 24 June 2024 with the offence of theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of theft in dwelling carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine.
Commander of Central Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jeremy Ang said, “This represents Police’s continued commitment to arrest the trend of increased shop theft, which means tightening our approach and prosecuting more cases. We cannot allow the perception that shop theft is a petty crime or that the Police are soft on shop theft to take root. Shop theft violates a fundamental principle of our societal values – do not steal and do not take what is not yours. If unaddressed, shop theft can affect the public sense of safety and security.”
The Police take a serious view of shop theft cases and offenders will be apprehended and dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. The Police would like to encourage all retailers to come onboard the Shop Theft Awareness for Retailers (STAR) programme. Retailers are encouraged to take preventive and deterrent measures to safeguard their businesses against shop theft.
- Ensure good line of sight of the displays by adopting an appropriate shop layout;
- Display advisory posters or signs against shop theft;
- Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations e.g. 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 staff or security personnel to patrol the premises in luminous vests for increased visual deterrence and engage customers as good service but also to project guardianship.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 June 2024 @ 8:40 PM