Housebreaking suspect at Bukit Batok nabbed by victim and neighbours

SINGAPORE -A 39-year-old housebreaking suspect has been nabbed by his intended victim and his neighbours at Bukit Batok Street 34.

The suspect was seen by a resident of the flat he broke into on Wednesday morning, police said in a statement on Thursday (April 28).

The victim was in his kitchen when he heard a loud noise from his bedroom at about 7.45am. He spotted a man trying to flee through the bedroom window.

The victim's neighbours Mr Wong Pi Xiang and Mr Choh Sze Huat responded to his calls for help, and the three detained the suspect.

Police officers arrived shortly and placed the suspect under arrest. Two screwdrivers and two pieces of cloth were seized, police said.

If convicted of housebreaking and theft by day, the suspect can be fined and jailed up to 10 years.

The police advised property owners to adopt these crime prevention measures against break-ins:

* Secure all doors and windows with good quality grills and close-shackled padlocks before retiring to bed or when leaving the house unattended, even for a short while.

* Keep large sums of cash in banks and expensive jewellery in a safe deposit box.

* Install a burglar alarm, to cover the house entrances. Ensure that the alarms are tested regularly and in good working condition.

This article was first published on April 28, 2016.
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