Police have arrested a 42 year-old man in connection with a series of break-ins and theft at hawker centres in various parts of the island.

Between March 2010 and September 2010, a spate of break-ins and theft from stalls were reported at hawker centres located at Holland Drive, Jalan Bukit Merah, Pasir Panjang and Tiong Bahru housing estates. Items stolen included cash and cigarettes amounting to a total of about S$600.

Following the reports, officers from Clementi Police Division studied the crime trend and conducted extensive follow-up investigations. On 23 September 2010 at about 9.00 p.m, the officers arrested the suspect in the vicinity of Jalan Bukit Merah in an ambush operation.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 25 September 2010 at 9 am for the offence of Housebreaking and Theft by Night under Section 457 of the Penal Code Chapter 224, which carries a imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment shall be not less than 2 years and not more than 14 years.

Commander of Clementi Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Melvin Yong, commended his officers for their good investigative work which resulted in the arrest of the suspect.