Trio nabbed for serial pawn shop scams
Posted: 29 June 2012 1759 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two men and a woman, aged between 29 and 39 years, for suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases involving the pawning of fake gold jewellery.
Since June 2012, a spate of cheating cases involving a 39-year-old male suspect were reported to the police. In these cases, the suspect would visit various pawn shops and pawn fake gold jewellery as genuine in return for cash. Preliminary investigations revealed that in most cases, only some of the jewellery was genuine.
A crime alert was sent to the Singapore Pawnbrokers' Association. Police managed to detain a 29-year-old woman and 30-year-old man believed to be linked to the cases reported on June 26 and 27. The female suspect was also found in possession of some fake jewellery.
Police arrested the 39-year-old mastermind near Commonwealth Crescent on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations show that the trio is believed to be involved in at least 15 cases of cheating of involving an estimated value of S$60,000.
The 39-year-old suspect will be charged in Court on Saturday for an offence of cheating. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 10 years. Investigations in the cases against the other two suspects are ongoing.
Police advise pawn shop proprietors to be vigilant against similar ruses and to exercise due diligence to check and verify the identities of individuals who pawn items at their premises as well as their guarantors before parting with their money. Where possible, pawn shop owners are also encouraged to carry out detailed examination on the pawned items.
- CNA/cc
