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Man stole handbags in churches all over S'pore
24 Dec 2009
SOURCE: The Straits Times
BARELY six months after his release from a 31/2-year prison sentence for theft, Michael Neo Eng Keong was back to his old ways.
This time, the 30-year-old targeted churches and stole handbags left unattended by victims.
Between June and September this year, he struck at 15 churches, getting away with property totalling $6,609.
Earlier this month, the unemployed man admitted to six counts of theft, with 10 other counts, including one of fraudulent possession, taken into
consideration during his sentencing.
Yesterday, he was sentenced to five years’ corrective training.
Neo told investigators that he chose to steal in churches as they were “easy targets”, given that most people would leave their bags unattended while praying or busy with church-related activities.
After stealing the bags, he would remove the cash and mobile phones before throwing the bags away.
He would then sell the cellphones in Sungei Road and use the proceeds and stolen cash for his daily expenses.
Community Court Judge Soh Tze Bian had earlier called for corrective training and preventive detention reports.
Noting Neo’s previous record of theft since the 1990s, the judge remarked that he seemed to be a recalcitrant offender.
“So Sunday is prosperity for you,” he added, referring to when Neo usually targeted his victims in church.
The thief, who was found suitable for both corrective training and preventive detention, was described in the report as having a 62 per cent probability of returning to crime.
Earlier, the court heard that among the churches that he targeted were Hephizibah Christian Fellowship in Alexandra Road, Faith Methodist Church, True Way Presbyterian Church, Elim Church and Changi Bethany Church.
Closed-circuit television footage from three churches captured Neo leaving the premises with the victims’ handbags.
Highlighting aggravating factors in this case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Bagchi Anamika said Neo had preyed on innocent victims and taken advantage of the trusting nature of churchgoers.
The maximum penalty for theft is a jail term of up to three years or a fine or both.
He could have been given up to 14 years for corrective training, which aims to lead an offender away from a life of crime by putting him through a strict discipline regime.
