Aug 26, 2010
Residents help nab two
<!-- by line --> By Hannah Koh
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> Public-spirited residents helped police nab suspected two loanshark harrassers in separate cases. On Wednesday, a 53-year-old resident of Ang Mo Kio Street 52 on his way home at 9pm noticed fresh paint on his neighbour's door. He then spotted an unfamiliar man leaving the scene.
Together with his 20-year-old son, they detained the suspect at the void deck until the police arrived shortly after. Officers searched the 44-year-old suspect and found loanshark-related paraphernalia such as a can of red spray paint, a marker, a handphone and suspected debtors' records in his possession.
The second arrest came on Thursday at 3.45am. Checking on a strange smell from outside his house, a 19-year-old resident in the Ang Mo Kio found loanshark graffiti scrawled on the wall near his unit when he opened his door. He saw a suspicious person running down the stairs, called the police and gave chase.
The 56-year-old suspect was eventually caught and handphones containing suspected debtorss' addresses and bank transaction receipts were found on him. Further investigation revealed both men to be debtors-turned-runners, and both were actively committing loanshark harassment in the Ang Mo Kio area. Both suspects will be charged in court on Friday for loanshark harassment.
