Vietnamese theft syndicate busted
Posted: 24 August 2011 0021 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested eight Vietnamese nationals, including five women, believed to have committed a series of thefts islandwide since July.
The suspects are aged between 17 and 47, and are believed to have stolen mobile phones, handbags and wallets from unsuspecting victims who had left the items out of sight or unattended in public areas.
Police have received about 20 cases of thefts in the shopping belts of Chinatown, Bugis, Marine Parade, Raffles Boulevard and Orchard Road since July.
One suspect, a 45-year-old man, was arrested at Changi Airport on 23 August while he was preparing to leave the country with 17 smartphones, three music players, three wallets and $2,200 cash.
The items, believed to be stolen, are estimated to be worth more than $15,000 in all. Police are in the process of identifying and contacting the owners of the recovered items.
The suspects will be charged in court this month, and may be jailed up to seven years and fined.
- CNA/ir
