Youth housebreakers nabbed

SINGAPORE - Two youths, both 14 years old, were arrested by the police at around midnight on Sunday after they broke into a place of worship along Jurong East Street 21.

Their accomplice, another 14-year-old youth, was also arrested a few hours later.

At 11.50pm yesterday, a 52-year-old victim reported to the police that someone had broken into the place of worship, with the crime captured by the in-house CCTVs.

The police responded within minutes, and arrested the first two suspects at the crime scene. The third suspect was arrested in the vicinity of Jurong East Street 24 at about 4am on Monday.

Housebreaking implements such as two screwdrivers and one plier were recovered and seized as case exhibits.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the three suspects are believed to be involved in other similar break-ins at the same building this month.

Investigations against them are ongoing. Any person convicted for Housebreaking and Theft by Night faces a minimum imprisonment term of 2 years up to a maximum imprisonment term of 14 years.

ellenja@sph.com.sg