Shop theft cases jump 25% in first half of 2023 as overall physical crime rises
Shop theft accounted for 18.1 per cent of all physical crime cases, said the police. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The number of shop theft cases rose to 1,820 in the first half of 2023, with experts saying self-checkout counters could be a possible reason for the rise in such cases.
The figure rose 25.3 per cent from the 1,453 cases during the same period last year, the police revealed on Friday, in releasing the mid-year crime statistics. Overall, the total number of physical crime cases increased by 5.4 per cent to 10,080 from January to June 2023, from 9,568 in the same period last year.
Shop theft accounted for 18.1 per cent of all physical crime cases, said the police. A total of 76 per cent of the cases took place at retail chains and shops such as department stores, supermarkets, health and beauty shops, minimarts and convenience stores. Items typically stolen were food, alcoholic drinks, personal care products, clothes, accessories and cosmetics.
For third year in a row, even as physical crimes dipped in 2023
Nearly 4,000 theft cases were reported at shops in Singapore last year, making up almost one-fifth of all physical crimes
The number of shoplifting cases in Singapore increased once again last year, making up the highest proportion of all reported physical crimes, according to statistics released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Monday (Feb 19).
There were 3,939 cases of shop theft last year – a 21.4 per cent increase from the 3,244 cases in 2022. There were 2,652 cases in 2021 and about 2,500 cases in 2020. However, the overall number of physical crime cases in 2023 fell by 1.1 per cent - from 20,193 to 19,966. Shop theft was among the four crimes of concern flagged by the police, with the others being theft in dwelling, molestation and voyeurism. In particular, voyeurism cases – which accounted for 2.4 per cent of physical crime in 2023 – rose by 52 cases to 476.
More than two-thirds of shop theft cases happened at retail outlets like department stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and minimarts, said SPF in a press release. Items typically stolen included food and beverages, alcoholic drinks, personal care products, cosmetics, apparel and accessories. Shop theft comprised 19.7 per cent of the total physical crime cases last year.
'Something gets stolen every week': Chinatown gift store owner puts up over 20 photos of suspected shoplifters
A gift shop in Chinatown has resorting to naming and shaming shoplifters by displaying their photos on their storefront. PHOTO: Shin Min Daily News
To deter potential shoplifters, a gift shop owner in Chinatown has resorted to naming and shaming those who nicked items from her store. The store at Trengganu Street, called Wow, recently went viral on Xiaohongshu for displaying more than 20 photos of people who allegedly stole from the shop.
An unnamed employee at the shop told Shin Min Daily News that theft has been a persistent problem since the shop opened last November. Both tourists and locals have been caught on camera taking items without paying, she said. "Something gets stolen every week. Sometimes, it even happens twice or thrice a day. The people whose photos we publish are locals and repeat offenders," she added.
Last month, a female tourist who looked to be in her 20s made away with a pair of glasses. She had allegedly swiped two pairs from the shelf and concealed one inside a hat near the counter. She then told the shop owner that she didn't want the second pair and left the shop with the other one. Another incident occurred during Chinese New Year. An elderly woman who was pushing a cart entered the shop around closing time.
Make-up, pens stolen as shop theft cases rise; retailer says culprits beg for mercy when caught
Suspected shoplifters caught on closed-circuit television cameras at Watsons, NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong, and Cold Storage from March 2023 to April 2024. PHOTOS: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
In 2023, staff at a clothing store in Ang Mo Kio Central saw a man in his 60s dash out of the shop with a pair of flip-flops that cost $16.90. They chased him, and when they caught him, he begged for mercy, pleading with the staff to not call the police. They let him off after he paid for the item.
The police told The Straits Times on May 18 that there were 977 shop theft cases in the first four months of 2024 – 99 more than the 878 cases in the same period in 2023. A spokesman for chain store Watsons said shop theft cases rose by 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 from the same period in 2023. Such cases have risen in recent years, with the figure growing by nearly 50 per cent from 2,652 cases in 2021 to 3,939 in 2023.
In its annual crime statistics released in February, the police said shop theft made up 19.7 per cent of reported physical crime cases in 2023. More than two-thirds of the cases took place at retail outlets like department stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores. Items typically stolen included food and beverages, alcoholic drinks, personal care products, cosmetics, apparel and accessories, the police added.
Police expand programme to help retailers combat shop theft as cases rise
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lian Ghim Hua said shop theft cases rose by 12 per cent from the first half of 2021 to the same period in 2022. ST PHOTO: FELINE LIM
Amid concerns over an increase in shop theft, the police will expand a programme to help retailers fight crime. Under the Shop Theft Awareness for Retailers (Star) initiative, the police work closely with businesses to analyse ways in which their stores are vulnerable to theft and come up with countermeasures.
Speaking at the inaugural Retailers Safety and Security Symposium on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lian Ghim Hua said cases of shop theft rose by 12 per cent, from 1,280 in the first half of 2021 to 1,439 in the same period in 2022. There were 2,652 cases of shop theft reported in 2021. “This uptrend is a concern and the police are committed to working closely with our partners in the retail sector to bring down the numbers,” said DCP Lian.
Launched in 2018, the Star programme now has more than 50 retailers on board, including Tangs, Watsons and Puma. It will be rolled out progressively in 2023 across all neighbourhood police centres, which will work with retailers in their areas. There are no limits on the number of retailers that can join the programme. The Star programme includes a primary survey where the police will assess whether the store has adequate security measures, such as closed-circuit television cameras. The police may also make recommendations to retailers such as keeping expensive items under lock and key.
Caught on camera: Woman steals mirror from Neil Road cafe by wrapping it in jacket
The woman removing her jacket to steal the mirror (left). The cafe showing how their mirror looked like (right). HOTO: Instagram/Thecoffeecodesingapore
With cafes having such pretty aesthetics these days, it's no wonder some customers feel the temptation to steal some of their fittings. Speaking to AsiaOne, the cafe owner of The Coffee Code Singapore, Gordon Ling, shared that his team realised that a mirror from their shop was missing on Sunday (June 9).
"My staff opened the shop and saw that the mirror had disappeared," the 31-year-old recounted. After going through the CCTV footage, which has since been uploaded onto the cafe's Instagram stories, the team discovered that the mirror had been stolen at around 2.07am that same morning. The cafe is located at Neil Road. In the footage, a woman can be seen gesturing at someone off camera before removing her jacket.
She then crouched down to pick up the mirror —which was displayed on the floor-with the jacket. She can then be seen sprinting away from the cafe, with another woman next to her.
MAN ARRESTED FOR SERIES OF SHOP THEFT
The Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of shop theft cases. Between 22 and 25 April 2022, the Police received several reports of luxury items stolen from shops along Orchard Road. The items purportedly had an estimated total value of about $34,860.
Through ground enquires and with the aid of images from Police cameras and CCTVs, officers from Tanglin Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 25 April 2022. The man will be charged in court on 27 April 2022 with theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term that may extend to seven years and a fine.
The Police would also like to remind retailers to remain vigilant against shop thieves. Retailers are advised to adopt the following measures:
- Ensure a good line of sight for the displays by using an appropriate shop layout;
- Display advisory posters or signage against shop theft;
- Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations (e.g. near cashier counters);
- Install CCTVs with recording system at the entrance/exit of the store to capture the facial features of shoppers;
- Deploy adequate security personnel to patrol the premises in luminous vests for deterrence
Police looking for woman involved in shop theft in vicinity of Botanic Gardens
The police are looking for a woman to assist with investigations into a case of shop theft that occurred on March 4 along 1 Cluny Road.
Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255- 0000 or submit information online at https://www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.
All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Police looking for man and woman involved in separate cases of shop theft at Nex
The police are looking for the two people to assist with investigations into two separate cases of shop theft reported at Nex shopping mall on May 4 and July 19.
Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online via www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Women sought by police to assist in investigations of theft at Watsons outlets around Singapore
The police are seeking the public’s assistance in their investigations of theft in dwelling at various retail chains, including Watsons, NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong and Cold Storage.
These cases took place between April 4, 2023 and March 15, 2024.
The individuals were captured on CCTVs are required to assist in the police investigations.
10 arrested for stealing over 90 pieces of clothing worth $6.8k from Orchard Road, HarbourFront
Seven men and three women, aged 20 to 32, have been arrested for allegedly stealing clothes worth about $6,800.
This comes after the police were alerted to a case of attempted theft along Orchard Road on October 16. The police said: "Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and CCTV footage, officers from Tanglin and Clementi Police Division established the identities of the ten persons involved."
An operation was conducted on October 30 and the ten people were arrested for theft in dwelling with common intention in four additional cases of shop theft. More than 90 pieces of the stolen clothing, which had a total value of around $6,800, were recovered. Among the items were multiple Uniqlo shirts and women's undergarments, reported The Straits Times.
Punishment For Shop Theft & Shoplifting In Singapore
Singapore, maintaining a secure and orderly society is of paramount importance. Singapore’s legal system takes a stringent stand, from severe crimes to minor offences such as petty theft or shoplifting, upholding a rigorous theft penal code.
It’s imperative for individuals, residents and visitors alike, to understand the potential consequences, including the punishment for shoplifting in Singapore or the penalties associated with petty theft, to navigate this rigorous legal landscape effectively. The country’s judicial system ensures the strict enforcement of the law and the utmost protection of individuals’ rights.
Knowing the punishment for shop theft in Singapore can be invaluable with the intricacies involved in legal proceedings, particularly for those facing charges. This understanding ensures an awareness of the potential outcomes and can aid in formulating a suitable defence, thus highlighting the necessity of having proficient legal guidance in these situations.
Full Coverage:
Why Shoplifting Is Now De Facto Legal In California
“Shoplifting in San Francisco” and you will find more than 100,000 hits. And you will find lots of YouTube videos, where you can watch a single thief, or an entire gang, walk into an SF Walgreens or CVS and empty the shelves. Most walk in, go about their pilfering, and then walk out, though at least one thief rode their bike into the store and departed the same way, carefully navigating their two-wheeler down a narrow aisle.
We probably shouldn’t call it shoplifting anymore, since that term connotes the idea of a person trying to conceal their crime. In San Francisco, there is no attempt to conceal theft, and there is almost never any effort by store employees, including security personnel, to confront the thieves. The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones. Why is shoplifting so rampant? Because state law holds that stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement probably won’t bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will let it go.
Why won’t store employees do anything about this theft? Because they don’t want to take the risk. I doubt many would, knowing that a Rite Aid employee was murdered recently after trying to stop two thieves. Moreover, a confrontation within the store risks harming not only store staff but also customers, so employees are almost certainly instructed by their managers to do nothing. Because of this law, California is extending an open invitation to anyone to walk in and take. Just like that—since they know that police or prosecutors won’t bother with a misdemeanor complaint and that store personnel won’t stop them.
Shoplifting Has Become A $100 Billion Problem For Retailers
Loss is an everyday part of the retail business – it’s even budgeted for. But when sales are low, and shrink is getting higher, it becomes unsustainable for businesses to keep their doors open.
Recently, retailers have been battling unprecedented losses. Organized retail crime (ORC) is running rampant. A National Retail Security Survey (NRSS) shows that total shrink in 2021 reported by retailers is now almost a $100 billion problem. Impact Of The Pandemic - 88% of retailers surveyed said that the pandemic resulted in an increase in overall risk for their company.
Retailers, on average, saw a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime incidents in 2021. Beyond theft of goods, eight in ten retailers surveyed reported that violence and aggression associated with incidents increased in the past year. Violence in stores has been triggered by many factors, including labor shortages, payroll cuts causing less coverage on the sales floor, and issues surrounding the pandemic, such as mask mandates and employees trying to enforce COVID precautions. We read about many instances over the past two years of violence stemming from a difference of opinion on masking policies.
Spate of Housebreakings & Burglaries
Wu Jinxing, a 27-year-old Chinese national, shows police where the loot was allegedly hidden. He is believed to be part of a foreign syndicate
The recent spate of housebreaking cases in private residential estates appears to be linked to foreign syndicates involving Chinese nationals, the police said on Saturday (Aug 17).
Three people have been arrested and charged in court so far, while the police are trying to locate another 14 who are currently out of Singapore. “The police are engaging the assistance of the Chinese authorities to obtain more information and locate them. Any members of the public with information on them are encouraged to provide this information to the police,” they said.
Before the recent cases, housebreaking crimes were on a downward trend, the police said. Fifty-nine cases were reported in the first half of this year, compared with 70 in the same period last year. However, 10 cases were reported between Jun 1 and Aug 4 this year, most of them taking place in private residential estates around the Rail Corridor and Bukit Timah Road. The stolen items in the 10 cases were valued at S$3.85 million (US$2.92 million), of which about S$1.36 million worth of items have been recovered.
