20-year-old man arrested for snatch theft

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested a 20-year-old man who is believed to be responsible for a case of snatch theft that was reported at Bukit Batok St 31.

On June 3, at around 10.30am, he attacked the 26-year-old female victim from behind, snatched her wallet and fled.

After officers from Jurong Police Division received notification of the crime, they reviewed CCTV footage to establish the suspect's identity. On June 16, the suspect was arrested at the Woodlands Checkpoint at 7am.

He will appear in court on June 17 for the offence of Snatch Theft. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to seven years and shall be liable to caning.

To prevent such incidents, the police advises members of the public to:

- Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or secluded areas.

- Always be alert and attentive to your surroundings. If you suspect that you are being followed, remain calm and proceed to a more crowded area or call the Police to seek help.

- Avoid wearing excessive jewellery or carrying large sums of cash.

- When walking, clutch your handbag tightly under your arm and its strap slung across the body. This is especially necessary when moving around in crowded places like shopping centres and markets.

- When on the streets, carry your handbag on the side that is away from moving traffic. There have been instances where snatch thieves on motorcycles or other vehicles have attempted to snatch away the victim's handbag while riding past them.

- When returning home alone or late at night, arrange for someone to escort you home.

- Carry a shrill alarm with you and use it to scare off the culprit or to attract the attention of other members of public.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg