Police have arrested a 22-year-old for his suspected involvement in a case of Snatch Theft committed in the vicinity of Moh Guan Terrace.
2 On 5 January 2015 at about 5.15 am, a 39-year-old woman was walking at the void deck along Moh Guan Terrace when an unknown male snatched her handbag and fled. The victim gave chase but lost sight of him along Kim Tian Road.
3 Upon receiving the report, officers from the Central Police Division immediately conducted a search in the vicinity. With the aid of POLCAM and the descriptions provided by the victim, the officers managed to identify the attire worn by the suspect and retrieved an image of him. Through extensive follow-up ground enquiries, the suspect was arrested along Jalan Bukit Merah on 6 January 2015 at 3.00am.
4 The suspect will be charged in Court on 7 January 2015 for the offence of Snatch Theft under Section 356 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 which carries a maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and shall be liable for caning.
5 Police would like to remind members of public to adopt the following measures against snatch theft:
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Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or secluded areas.
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Always be alert and attentive to your surroundings. If you suspect that you are being followed, remain calm and proceed to a more crowded area or call the Police to seek help.
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Avoid wearing excessive jewellery or carrying large sums of cash.
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When walking, clutch your handbag tightly under your arm and its strap slung across the body. This is necessary when moving around in crowded places like shopping centres and markets.
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When on the streets, carry your handbag on the side that is away from moving traffic. There have been instances where snatch thieves on motorcycles or other vehicles have attempted to snatch victims’ handbags while riding past them.
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When returning home alone or late at night, arrange for someone to escort you home.
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Carry a shrill alarm with you and use it to scare off the culprit or to attract the attention of other members of public.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 January 2015 @ 6:15 PM