Several youths arrested for housebreaking cases
By S Ramesh | Posted: 09 December 2011 2105 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested four youths aged between 17 and 20 suspected of breaking into a residential unit in the Tampines housing estate on December 5.
Two days after that break-in, police received yet another report of a break-in also in Tampines.
Cash, a netbook and a mobile phone were missing from the house.
After extensive investigations and ground enquiries, the police arrested them - two men and two women - at a chalet located at Costa Sands in Pasir Ris.
The stolen netbook and mobile phone were found in their possession and recovered.
In another case also involving home invasions, police arrested a 19-year-old teenager believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins in Ang Mo Kio and Yishun housing estates.
On Thursday, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division spotted the suspect walking hastily along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 while on their rounds.
They decided to conduct a check on him as they suspected something was amiss.
Three mobile phones were found in the suspect's possession and it was noted that two of the mobile phones contained Mandarin contents, which the suspect could not comprehend.
As the suspect was unable to provide a satisfactory account for the possession of the mobile phones, he was arrested and brought back to Ang Mo Kio Police Division for further investigation.
It was later discovered that he was found to be involved in at least ten break-ins in Ang Mo Kio and Yishun housing estates.
The suspect would stretch his hand through unsecured windows along the corridor to steal valuables such as mobile phones, wallets and MP3 players.
Subsequently, a friend of the suspect was also caught for dishonestly retaining a stolen mobile phone.
In another case, police arrested a 22-year-old man who is believed to be involved in at least 12 cases of snatch theft committed island-wide between November 12 and December 8 this year.
The suspect targeted senior citizens aged between 55 and 77, who were returning home after shopping for groceries at supermarkets and markets by snatching their gold chains in the lift.
Upon his arrest, several pawnshop tickets were seized from the suspect for investigation.
- CNA/ck
