Within three days, Police have arrested a 26-year-old man who preyed on students in at least 2 cases of robbery in Hougang and Ang Mo Kio Estates. The two victims were robbed of their hand phones and valuables such as Ez-link card and cash worth about $1000.

On 24 May 2010 at about 2.45pm, Police received report that a 15-year-old student was robbed by a man inside the lift of Blk 699A Hougang Street 52. The victim was returning home after school when the suspect confronted and assaulted him before relieving him of his hand phone and wallet. Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division acted swifty and recovered a CCTV footage of the suspect. In another case, on 25 May 2010 at about 4.55pm, a 15-year-old student was robbed of her purse and hand phone by a man inside the lift of Blk 249 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2.

Extensive enquiries and detailed analysis led the officers to conclude that the suspect for both cases could be the same person and was probably residing in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Estate. This information and the CCTV image of the suspect was promptly disseminated to all ground officers and an operation was mounted in Ang Mo Kio to locate the suspect.

On 27 May 2010 at about 5.00 pm, the officers' efforts paid off when they spotted a man, who looked like the suspect in the CCTV footage, sitting at the void deck of Blk 245 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Thereafter, he was observed to be following behind two girls in the vicinity. As the officers were approaching him, the suspect suddenly made a turn and fled. Officers immediately chased the suspect who ran across the road towards Bishan Park and into a construction site. The officers quickly summoned for reinforcements and cordoned off the said construction site. Their good coordination finally led to the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect will be charged in the Court on 29 May 2010 for an offence of Robbery with Hurt which carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, commended his officers for their perseverance, dedication and vigilance resulting in the successful arrest of the culprit. DAC Hsu also advised members of the public to be wary of their surroundings. When confronted, members of the public should remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and distinctive features of the perpetrators and call for the Police as soon as possible.