A GROUP of police officers on a routine anti-crime patrol arrested three pickpocket suspects after catching them in action in Bugis Junction last Friday afternoon.

At about 5pm that day, the suspects, three Vietnamese women who were here on social visit passes, were seen following closely behind a female shopper. This caught the officers' attention and they decided to keep a close eye on the trio, aged between 22 and 39.

Their suspicions were proven right when they saw one of them reaching into the 23-year-old shopper's backpack. To avoid being noticed, the suspect shielded her hand with a jacket.

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