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Residents in Toh Yi told to be alert to man stalking children in their estate
An image shared in a WhatsApp group of the man loittering at a playground in Toh Yi. PHOTO: ST READER
SINGAPORE – Parents and teachers of Pei Hwa Presbyterian primary school in Toh Yi have been told to be alert to a bespectacled man in his 30s who has been spotted chatting with children to get their telephone numbers.
A group of residents in the same estate, who call themselves the Toh Yi Residents’ Network, had also alerted residents in July 2024 after the man allegedly followed a young girl and her helper to their Housing Board block in the estate.
Mr Derrick Tan, who chairs the network, told residents in an advisory that the same man had on separate occasions asked “a group of boys to buy things for him and tried to invite them to his place”.
Several residents received the information via a Telegram chat group, said Mr Jeff Escanuela, who has lived in the Toh Yi area since 2007.
Mr Escanuela, a 24-year-old university student, said: “I shared the link to the Telegram chat with my family members as I have a younger sister in secondary school. I just wanted her to be careful.”
The Toh Yi Residents’ Network had alerted residents in July after the man allegedly followed a young girl and her helper to their HDB block. PHOTO: ST READER
The Telegram alert, which was shared widely, has prompted parents in a WhatsApp group to ask if a recent exchange in Thomson is related.
In the incident on Nov 5 at Thomson Plaza, an individual recording a video can be heard loudly questioning a man for approaching his nine-year-old daughter while she was alone at a claw machine in the mall.
In the three-minute-long video, the man recording can be heard accusing the stranger of taking down his daughter’s telephone number.
The stranger bears a striking resemblance to the alleged stalker in Toh Yi estate.
The girl’s father made a police report, which The Straits Times saw. He claimed his daughter was pressured into giving the stranger her telephone number.
The father said he confronted the man after his daughter told him about the incident. He then got the stranger to delete her number, and the man complied.
The stranger, who identifies himself as John, tells the father in the video that he will not be harassing young girls.
He says he tries to make friends with a few young girls, and has a “sexual case waiting for investigations”.
“I really have no intentions but (I) just want to make friends,” John says in the video, adding: “I’m not going to make friends with young girls any more.”
An individual recording a video can be heard loudly questioning a man for approaching his nine-year-old daughter while she was alone at a claw machine in Thomson Plaza. PHOTO: ST READER
In the video, which has been shared widely, the stranger can be heard promising the father to delete messages from other children.
In the police report, the girl’s father claimed that he saw messages in the stranger’s phone that suggested the man had tried to ask young girls out.
The father added that some messages were “teasing and uncomfortable to any parent”.
ST contacted John but he did not answer the calls.
In the police report, the girl’s father claimed that he saw messages in the stranger’s phone that suggested the man had tried to ask young girls out. PHOTO: ST READER
Parents in the WhatsApp group also shared a screengrab of a message purportedly from a woman claiming to be John’s mother.
In the message, the writer says John had previously sought professional help.
She said: “Because of the nature of his conditions, his rigid and impulsive behaviour gets him into unnecessary trouble... Give us time to manage his problems.”
The woman also apologised to the parents of the nine-year-old girl for causing them distress.
Police confirmed a report has been made and said they are speaking to a 30-year-old man in connection with the Thomson Plaza incident.
He allegedly followed a young girl home and tried inviting a group of boys to his place.
Source: 画在新加坡 on Xiaohongshu
He was allegedly seen loitering near a primary school and a playground.
The notice, which was shared by a Xiaohongshu user on Sunday (28 July), also stated that the man is “often seen talking to young children”.
Source: Choo Yut Shing on Flickr
Witnesses claim that the man once followed a young girl and her helper back to their block.
On another occasion, he purportedly asked a group of boys to “buy things” for him and attempted to invite them to his home.
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School has also shared the warning notice about the man in its WhatsApp group chat.
Source: 画在新加坡 on Xiaohongshu
Residents are advised to call 999 if they see any suspicious characters.
They should provide the police with the person’s last known location, physical description (including clothing, build, and hairstyle), and details of their actions.
Children and the elderly should be reminded not to speak to strangers.
If a stranger asks for directions, they should be referred to the nearest community partner rather than being shown the way.
When MS News reached out to the Toh Yi Residents’ Network for more information, the Bukit Timah Community Club responded saying it “has no comments regarding the ongoing police investigation”.
It also directed further queries to the Singapore Police Force
An image shared in a WhatsApp group of the man loittering at a playground in Toh Yi. PHOTO: ST READER
SINGAPORE – Parents and teachers of Pei Hwa Presbyterian primary school in Toh Yi have been told to be alert to a bespectacled man in his 30s who has been spotted chatting with children to get their telephone numbers.
A group of residents in the same estate, who call themselves the Toh Yi Residents’ Network, had also alerted residents in July 2024 after the man allegedly followed a young girl and her helper to their Housing Board block in the estate.
Mr Derrick Tan, who chairs the network, told residents in an advisory that the same man had on separate occasions asked “a group of boys to buy things for him and tried to invite them to his place”.
Several residents received the information via a Telegram chat group, said Mr Jeff Escanuela, who has lived in the Toh Yi area since 2007.
Mr Escanuela, a 24-year-old university student, said: “I shared the link to the Telegram chat with my family members as I have a younger sister in secondary school. I just wanted her to be careful.”
The Toh Yi Residents’ Network had alerted residents in July after the man allegedly followed a young girl and her helper to their HDB block. PHOTO: ST READER
The Telegram alert, which was shared widely, has prompted parents in a WhatsApp group to ask if a recent exchange in Thomson is related.
In the incident on Nov 5 at Thomson Plaza, an individual recording a video can be heard loudly questioning a man for approaching his nine-year-old daughter while she was alone at a claw machine in the mall.
In the three-minute-long video, the man recording can be heard accusing the stranger of taking down his daughter’s telephone number.
The stranger bears a striking resemblance to the alleged stalker in Toh Yi estate.
The girl’s father made a police report, which The Straits Times saw. He claimed his daughter was pressured into giving the stranger her telephone number.
The father said he confronted the man after his daughter told him about the incident. He then got the stranger to delete her number, and the man complied.
The stranger, who identifies himself as John, tells the father in the video that he will not be harassing young girls.
He says he tries to make friends with a few young girls, and has a “sexual case waiting for investigations”.
“I really have no intentions but (I) just want to make friends,” John says in the video, adding: “I’m not going to make friends with young girls any more.”
An individual recording a video can be heard loudly questioning a man for approaching his nine-year-old daughter while she was alone at a claw machine in Thomson Plaza. PHOTO: ST READER
In the video, which has been shared widely, the stranger can be heard promising the father to delete messages from other children.
In the police report, the girl’s father claimed that he saw messages in the stranger’s phone that suggested the man had tried to ask young girls out.
The father added that some messages were “teasing and uncomfortable to any parent”.
ST contacted John but he did not answer the calls.
In the police report, the girl’s father claimed that he saw messages in the stranger’s phone that suggested the man had tried to ask young girls out. PHOTO: ST READER
Parents in the WhatsApp group also shared a screengrab of a message purportedly from a woman claiming to be John’s mother.
In the message, the writer says John had previously sought professional help.
She said: “Because of the nature of his conditions, his rigid and impulsive behaviour gets him into unnecessary trouble... Give us time to manage his problems.”
The woman also apologised to the parents of the nine-year-old girl for causing them distress.
Police confirmed a report has been made and said they are speaking to a 30-year-old man in connection with the Thomson Plaza incident.
He allegedly followed a young girl home and tried inviting a group of boys to his place.
Man allegedly follows young girl home & exhibits suspicious behaviour in Toh Yi estate
The Toh Yi Residents’ Network has issued a notice alerting the community to a “suspicious” man in the area.
Source: 画在新加坡 on Xiaohongshu
He was allegedly seen loitering near a primary school and a playground.
The notice, which was shared by a Xiaohongshu user on Sunday (28 July), also stated that the man is “often seen talking to young children”.
Followed young girl & her helper back to their block
Describing the individual as a “bespectacled Chinese man” in his mid-30s, the Toh Yi Residents’ Network reported that he has been seen near Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School and the playground at Block 2 Toh Yi Drive “on multiple occasions”.
Source: Choo Yut Shing on Flickr
Witnesses claim that the man once followed a young girl and her helper back to their block.
On another occasion, he purportedly asked a group of boys to “buy things” for him and attempted to invite them to his home.
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School has also shared the warning notice about the man in its WhatsApp group chat.
Source: 画在新加坡 on Xiaohongshu
Police to step up patrols
The notice went on to confirm that the police are aware of the situation and will increase patrols during school dismissal periods.Residents are advised to call 999 if they see any suspicious characters.
They should provide the police with the person’s last known location, physical description (including clothing, build, and hairstyle), and details of their actions.
Children and the elderly should be reminded not to speak to strangers.
If a stranger asks for directions, they should be referred to the nearest community partner rather than being shown the way.
When MS News reached out to the Toh Yi Residents’ Network for more information, the Bukit Timah Community Club responded saying it “has no comments regarding the ongoing police investigation”.
It also directed further queries to the Singapore Police Force
