Police have arrested 2 men who are believed to be responsible for several cases of snatch theft involving lone female victims in Chinatown.

On 12 Apr 2010 at about 1am , a 25 year-old woman was walking alone along Mosque Street when her handbag containing $200 and personal documents were snatched by a man who disappeared into the backlanes. A month later, on 11 May 2010 , another 34 year-old woman who was walking alone at Mosque Street at about 2.15am also had her handbag snatched from behind by a man. The suspect, who was seen running away with a male accomplice, made off with her handbag containing about $150, a mobile phone, and her identification documents.

Both the victims could only provide a general description of the suspect involved in the theft cases. Undeterred officers from Central Police Division conducted extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations and managed to establish the identity of an 18 year-old male Malay suspect. On 19 May 2010 at about 10.30pm , he was arrested at Jalan Minyak in a police ambush. Following up on his arrest, the officers established the identity of his 26 year-old Chinese accomplice, who was arrested about half an hour later at Eu Tong Sen Street .

Both suspects will be charged in Court 26 on 21 May 2010 for an offence of Snatch Theft with Common Intention under Section 356 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. The offence carries a maximum jail term of 7 years imprisonment and caning if convicted.

Deputy Commander of Central Police Division, Superintendent Adrian Quek, commended his officers for their good investigative work which led to the suspects’ arrest and reiterated that the Police will spare no efforts to track down the perpetrators of such crimes and bring them to justice.