The Police have arrested a serial lift robber who is believed to have robbed three women at knifepoint within the last four days. Leaving no stone unturned, the Police managed to track down the suspect just in time to prevent him from leaving the country yesterday.

On 2 Jan 10 at about 9.00 am, a 75 year-old woman had just entered into a lift at Blk 104 Bukit Purmei Road when a man followed in closely behind. Once the lift door closed, the man pulled out a pen knife and demanded that she hand over her valuables. Fearing for her safety, the victim immediately surrendered all her valuables, including her groceries and cash amounting to $30/-. When the lift door opened at the 6th floor, the suspect ordered her to leave. The victim returned home but only lodged a police report later the same afternoon at about 12.47pm.

On the same day (2 Jan 2010) at about 10.15 am, 2 elderly women aged 66 and 71 years old, entered the lift at Blk 40 Telok Blangah Rise together with a man. When the lift door closed, the man pointed a pen knife at the throat of the 71 year-old woman and demanded for her purse. Before she could react, the suspect snatched the purse from her hand containing her ezy-link card and $15/- cash and escaped when the lift door opened at the 5th floor. The other 66 year-old woman who was in the lift was too stunned and afraid to react. The 71 year-old victim then called for the police when she returned home. Police arrived shortly after and conducted a search of the area, but the culprit was nowhere to be found.

Through intensive investigation and extensive ground enquiries, the identity of the culprit was established. On 6 Jan 2010 at about 7.50pm, the 41 year-old suspect was arrested by the police at Harbour Front Cruise Centre as he was about to leave Singapore.

Investigations revealed that the suspect is also believed to be involved in a series of similar cases; one of which was committed shortly before his arrest. On 6 Jan 2010 at about 6.20pm, the suspect had followed a 40 year-old woman into the lift of Blk 454 Clementi Avenue 3 and robbed her at knifepoint of her handbag containing cash $400/-, hand phone and some bank cards.

The suspect will be charged in the Subordinate Court 26 on 8 Jan 10 at 9.00am for an offence of Armed Robbery under Section 392 read with Section 397 of the Penal Code. A person convicted of this offence faces a maximum jail term of ten years and is also liable for caning of not less than 12 strokes.

Commander of Central Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Lau Peet Meng, commended his officers for their perseverance, diligence and good work which resulted in the arrest of the suspect. He added, "Police will spare no effort to bring to justice those who victimise our elderly. We will not tolerate such cowardly acts of desperation."