Passers-by help nab thief in Toa Payoh

He almost got away after he had tried to steal a mobile phone near the HDB Hub at Toa Payoh Lorong 6 on Friday evening.

But the thief was caught by two Good Samaritans who helped haul him to justice.

Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday that the mobile phone belongs to a chef, known only as Mr Babu, 47.

It was lying on a table when the thief suddenly snatched it.

Said Mr Babu: "I shouted for help. The thief managed to run for about 100 metres before he was caught."

One of the heroes, Mr Li Weisheng, 24, who works in insurance, told reporters that he immediately sprung into action when he heard the chef's cry for help.

He said: "I ran after the robber and caught up with him near an automatic glass door. I jumped onto him and both of us fell to the floor.

"After that, another man joined me to subdue to thief together."

This second hero, a taxi driver who was identified only as Mr Peter, 54, said: "I was doing my shopping when I heard a commotion and moved in to help.

"I used my leg to press on his back and held onto his hands. I made him spread his legs to prevent him from running away."

The police told The New Paper on Sunday that they received a call about the incident at around 8.40pm on Friday.

Officers arrived at the scene and found that a case of theft had taken place there.

They arrested a man in his 30s.

This article was first published on Oct 5, 2014.
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