Cellphone thief strikes outside Montfort Junior School

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Cellphone thief strikes outside Montfort Junior School
3 kids have fallen victim outside Montfort Junior in the past six months

Published on Jan 10, 2012

By Khushwant Singh & Jalelah Abu Baker

Three pupils have had their mobile phones snatched from them outside the same school in the past six months.

They were targeted after walking out of Montfort Junior School through a side gate, triggering concerns among parents.

In the latest case, an 11-year-old boy had his $800 smartphone stolen from his hand last Wednesday.

His father, Mr Harmesh Singh, said the Primary 6 pupil had just called his mother while sitting on a stone bench outside the gate at around 2.15pm.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

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Snatch thief outside primary school
Lina Chan

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In the past six months, three students have fallen prey to a teenage snatch thief outside Montfort Junior School.

According to the Straits Times, the primary school students were outside school compounds when the brazen theft took place. According to a victim's father, Harmesh Singh, his son had his mobile phone snatched after making a call to his mother at 2:15pm. The primary six student was "very badly shaken, and was still sobbing" when Mr Singh got to the school.

The young victim described the thief, and Mr Singh has since lodged a police report. Principal of Monfort Junior School, Genevieve Chye, reassured that they will "do anything to ensure the safety of the children." According to Ms Chye, they have placed security guards on duty at gates where pupils arrive. There is also staff to keep a look out even as the students are leaving school.

The school is working with the police and tightening their security in attempts to prevent such cases from happening in the future. The school has also spoken to students with regards to being aware of their surroundings and safety. Parents of pupils of Monfort Junior School have been alerted via newsletters about the situation.

A parent, Ho Quang Chien said that thefts happen anywhere, and that they cannot depend "only on law enforcement," he added that "we must drill into (the children) the message that they should be careful."