17/10/2020

Spate of thefts of Budget 2020 grocery vouchers

Thieves are breaking into mailboxes to steal S$10 grocery vouchers
Stacks of grocery vouchers, at left, and a pair of pliers seized from a suspect. Photos: Singapore Police Force

Police have arrested seven people suspected of stealing grocery vouchers from mailboxes in five neighborhoods.

Multiple arrests have been made since Sunday, the police said yesterday, adding that two of the suspects will be charged in court today with theft while they continue to investigate the remaining five. Four were men, and three were women. “ The Police have arrested four men and three women, aged between 23 and 54, for their suspected involvement in separate cases of theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers from HDB letterboxes at different locations in Singapore,” police said in yesterday’s statement.

Stacks of 15 grocery vouchers, each worth S$10, were handed out by the government to low-income residents earlier this month as part of COVID-19 financial aid. Police said that there were complaints of stolen vouchers from mailboxes in Toa Payoh, Tampines, Marsiling, Telok Blangah and Buona Vista. 


14 more people arrested for thefts of Budget 2020 grocery vouchers
Suspects were escorted by police officers at the crime scene to identify the letterboxes from which the vouchers were allegedly stolen. (Photo: Singapore Police Force)

The police have made more arrests following a spate of thefts involving Budget 2020 grocery vouchers from letterboxes in residential blocks across Singapore. It said on Saturday (Oct 17) that 14 more people have been arrested for allegedly stealing the vouchers from letterboxes in separate locations and cases.

In a news release, the police released the following details about the arrests:
  • A 17-year-old man and two women aged 16 and 18 were arrested by officers from the Central Police Division over the theft of vouchers at residential blocks along Maude Road and Kitchener Road. They will be charged in court on Saturday.
  • Two men aged 54 and 61 were arrested for allegedly stealing grocery vouchers at a residential block along Lengkok Bahru. Investigations are onging.
  • A 24-year-old man was arrested over the theft of grocery vouchers at letterboxes at Lower Delta Road.
  • A 46-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were arrested for allegedly stealing the vouchers from a residential block Lorong 1 Toa Payoh.
  • A 53-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly stealing the vouchers from a HDB block at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Her daughter, 28, was also arrested for allegedly using the grocery vouchers after knowing they had been stolen. 
  • A 43-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested for allegedly stealing grocery vouchers along Aljunied Crescent.
  • A 43-year-old man and 34-year-old woman were arrested by officers from the Jurong Police Division for cases of theft at residential blocks along Jalan Kayu and Kim Tian Place respectively. 
  • A 67-year-old man was arrested on Friday for alleged theft of Budget 2020 grocery vouchers at a residential block along Marsiling Road.
In two other separate cases, a 70-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman are being investigated for dishonestly misappropriating grocery vouchers at residential blocks along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 and Choa Chu Kang Street 51 respectively. Over the past six days, 24 people have been investigated or arrested in relation to these thefts, police said.


More than 24 people arrested over 6 days

Over the past six days, the police have investigated or arrested more than 24 persons linked to these thefts.

Preliminary police investigations revealed that these cases are unrelated and opportunistic in nature. The police also provided photos of the improvised tools used for the alleged thefts.

The details of the arrests are as follows:
  • A 17-yr-old man and 2 women, aged 16 and 18, on Oct. 15, 2020 at several residential blocks along Maude Road and Kitchener Road.
  • 2 men, aged 54 and 61, on Oct. 15, 2020 at a residential block along Lengkok Bahru.
  • A 24-yr-old man on Oct. 15, 2020 at a residential block along Lower Delta Road.
  • 46-yr-old man and a 43-yr-old woman were arrested at a residential block along Lorong 1 Toa Payoh.
  • 53-yr-old woman on Oct. 15, 2020 at a residential block along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.
  • A 28-yr-old woman, arrested in relation to the case for allegedly using the Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers after knowing that they had been stolen.
  • 43-yr-old man and a 37-yr-old woman on Oct. 15, 2020 at a residential block along Aljunied Crescent.
  • 43-yr-old man on Oct. 15, 2020 at a residential block along Jalan Kayu.
  • 34-yr-old woman was arrested at a residential block along Kim Tian Place.
  • 70-yr-old man and a 26-yr-old woman along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 and Choa Chu Kang Street 51 respectively.
  • 67-yr-old man on Oct. 16, 2020 at a residential block along Marsiling Road.

FOUR MEN AND THREE WOMEN ARRESTED FOR THEFT OF BUDGET 2020 GROCERY VOUCHERS FROM LETTERBOXES

The Police have arrested four men and three women, aged between 23 and 54, for their suspected involvement in separate cases of theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers from HDB letterboxes at different locations in Singapore.

The cases are as follows:
  • Officers from Tanglin Police Division arrested a 37-year-old woman on 11 October 2020 for alleged theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers at a residential block along Toa Payoh Lorong 7. Investigations are ongoing.
  • Officers from Bedok Police Division arrested a 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman on 14 October 2020 for alleged theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers at a residential block along Tampines Street 86. The duo will be charged in court on 16 October 2020 with two counts of Theft with Common Intention under Section 379 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code. The man had allegedly stolen the vouchers at the same location on a separate occasion and will also be charged for an additional count of Theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code.
  • Officers from Woodlands Police Division arrested a 41-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman on 14 October 2020 for alleged theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers at a residential block along Marsiling Road. Investigations are ongoing.
  • Officers from Clementi Police Division arrested a 54-year-old man on 14 October 2020 for alleged theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers at a residential block along Telok Blangah Rise. In a separate and unrelated case, another 54-year-old man was arrested on 15 October 2020 for alleged theft of Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers at a residential block along Holland Close. Investigations against these two men are ongoing.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that these theft cases are likely unrelated and opportunistic in nature. The offence of theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 carries an imprisonment term which may extend to three years, or fine, or both. The Police have also received similar reports in other residential estates and we are intensifying our efforts with a view to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. If you spot any suspicious person(s) loitering near the letterboxes, please call the Police at 999 immediately.


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