Police have arrested a young Vietnamese couple who pickpocketed an unsuspecting shopper's mobile phone in a crowded shopping mall on 29 Dec 09. The suspects, who are here on social visit passes, are also believed to have stolen from several other victims in a similar fashion.

On 29 Dec 09 at about 5.30pm, a 34-year-old woman’s suspicion was aroused when a young couple kept bumping into her as she was shopping at a crowded shopping mall in Bugis. Upon checking her bag, the woman found that her mobile phone was missing. She immediately ran after the couple, who had since walked away. The victim managed to catch up with them and caught hold of the female suspect's bag in an attempt to detain her. However, the female suspect managed to break free, and the couple fled. The victim then called the Police.

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, Police managed to establish the identities of the suspects. On 13 Jan 2010 at 9.15am, the 17 year-old Vietnamese woman was arrested at Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Building at Kallang Road. The same morning, the 19 year-old Vietnamese man was arrested at the Immigration Checkpoint of Changi Airport as he was about to leave Singapore. The Vietnamese man was found to be in possession of about S$1000 and some foreign currencies, 14 mobile phones, 3 digital cameras, 6 bottles of perfume and 2 media players.

The two suspects will be charged in Court 26 on the 15 Jan 2010 for the offence of Theft from Person with Common Intention under Section 379 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine.

Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lau Peet Meng, reminded members of the public to be vigilant when shopping in crowded areas and to be wary of strangers who follow them too closely.