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Since the beginning of the year, there have
been 124 cases of snatch theft reported. Of these cases, 67 cases
involved the stealing of handphones. |
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In instances where the handphones were
stolen, these incidents occurred along streets and common areas. The
culprits would snatch the handphones from their victims, who would be
messaging or engaged in a conversation using their handphones, or while
holding them at the time of the offence. |
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It was also noted that most of the 124
snatch theft incidents occurred in open areas such as streets,
footpaths, backlanes, along corridors, at staircases or staircase
landings, void deck and lift areas. In some instances, the
culprits trailed their victims to less crowded areas before
striking. |
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On 17 Feb 07 at about 6 pm, a woman in
20s was using her handphone while walking along Ang Mo Kio Ave 5
when a man came from behind and snatched her phone before fleeing. |
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Over two days from 4 to 5 Mar 07,
three elderly women were targeted by robbers in separate
incidents, losing their valuables in public areas. |
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On 4 Mar, a woman in her 60s was
walking along Seng Poh Road in the afternoon when a man grabbed
her $700 gold necklace. He fled on a motorcycle ridden by an
accomplice. Another woman in her 70s, who was sitting at the void
deck of a block of flats at Telok Blangah Crescent in the morning,
had her gold necklace and pendant snatched by a man. |
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At about 12.30am on 5 Mar, a woman in
her early 70s was robbed of her handbag containing $150 cash, a
handphone and other personal items at Telok Blangah Crescent after
a man approached her from behind and grabbed her handbag and fled. |
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More recently on 6 Mar at about
6.45am, a teenaged male victim lost his handphone to a snatch
thief when he was hit on the back of the head whilst walking near
Tampines St 41. The culprit picked up the $100 mobile phone that
the victim dropped and fled with it. |
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As snatch thefts are primarily
opportunistic crimes and are largely preventable, Police would
thus like to advise members of the public to adopt the following
crime prevention measures to minimise their chances of becoming a
victim of snatch thefts: |
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Avoid carrying excessive cash, valuables or jewellery;
- Do
not expose cash and other valuables such as handphones and
jewellery in public;
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Sling your handbag in front of you or clutch it under your arm;
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Be alert to your surroundings. If you suspect
someone is following you, move to the nearest crowded area or
call the Police for assistance;
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Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or secluded areas,
always keep to well-lit areas;
- If
you are returning home late, get a family member or a friend to
wait for you at the bus stop or void deck and accompany you
home;
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Stand near the button panel when entering lift alone. If someone
rushes into the lift as the door is closing, press the "door
open" button and step out immediately.
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In relation to handphone snatch
thefts: |
- Do
not be oblivious to your surroundings while taking a phone call
or messaging on your handphone. Move to an area where you can
better observe and be aware of your surroundings;
- As
a precautionary measure, obtain your handphone¨s 15 or 17 digit
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, by keying
in *#06# on your keypad and recording the
number. In the unfortunate event that your handphone is stolen,
supply the IMEI number to the Police, who can log it into the
Handphone IMEI Tracing System (HITS). This system is available
online at www.spf.gov.sg for
members of the public to verify if the handphone that they
intend to purchase has been reported stolen.
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Crime prevention is a shared
responsibility. Protect yourselves against crime by making crime
prevention a part of your lifestyle. |
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Supt Evon Ng, Assistant Director
Operations (Community Involvement Division), Singapore Police
Force says, ＾Since the beginning of the year, 124 snatch theft
cases have been reported, out of which 67 cases involved the
stealing of handphones. Snatch thefts are primarily crimes of
opportunity and are largely preventable. The Police would like to
remind the public to be aware of their surroundings when walking
in public or using their handphones. Be wary of suspicious persons
approaching or trailing you. Take care of your valuables and do
not carry excessive cash or jewellery. Don't be an easy target for
criminals by making crime prevention a part of your lifestyle." |
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 March 2007 @4.45pm |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg Media Release 8
Mar 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 10 March 2007
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