While the overall crime for the period Jan-Jun 2012 has decreased, the police would like to alert the public to stay vigilant and take simple precautionary steps to avoid becoming a victim of crime in the following areas:

1. Theft of bicycles
2. Theft in dwelling
3. Cyber extortion
4. ‘Microsoft’ phone scams

Secure your bicycles to prevent theft

The number of theft of bicycle cases has increased by 260 cases (+52.8%) from 492 cases in the first half of last year to 752 cases over the same period this year. The cases were mostly reported in the housing estates. The most common areas where bicycles were reported stolen are common corridors and void decks of HDB units, and bicycle bays at MRT stations.

The police and the National Crime Prevention Council have been jointly promoting awareness of bicycle theft through crime prevention advertorials in newspapers, public buses and MRT trains. Police are also working with Town Councils to install enhanced bicycle racks. For example, Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council and Ang Mo Kio Town Council have recently each installed over 100 security-enhanced bicycle racks in Nee Soon South and Sengkang respectively. Police are also working with SMRT and SBS Transit to install more CCTVs at the bicycle bays at MRT stations. Police are also engaging cycling interest groups to spread the anti-theft message. Apart from such initiatives, bicycle owners can take simple steps to safeguard their bicycles from theft. (Refer to Annex D for the crime prevention advisory on bicycle theft)

Safeguard your valuables at home and at work

Cases of Theft in Dwelling registered increases of 161 cases (+8%) from 2,010 cases in the first half of last year to 2,171 cases over the same period this year. These thefts were commonly reported in the following areas:

1. at residential units where suspects are domestic helpers, tenants, movers, renovation contractors, deliverymen;
2. at residential corridor units where items stolen were placed within easy reach for theft through the window, or suspected to be stolen through the “fishing” method where suspects who used poles or other objects to reach the items;
3. at dormitories where suspects are co-tenants or visitors; and
4. at commercial premises where suspects are co-workers, contractors, cleaners, or deliverymen. Cases where sales assistants reported the loss of personal property left unattended at cashier counters were also common.

The public is advised to take precautions to safeguard their belongings against theft at home or at work. Since Jan 2012, there was a spate of over 20 theft-in-dwelling cases involving the ‘fishing’ method, where culprits used poles and other objects to steal items placed near unsecured windows along HDB corridors. Police are liaising with grassroots organisations to spread the crime prevention message to its residents. We are also working with HDB to explore suitable measures, such as the inclusion of a crime advisory into the welcome package given to new home owners. Residents are urged to take simple precautionary measures against such opportunistic crimes, such as not leaving mobile phones, laptops, handbags and other valuables near windows which are accessible by outsiders. (Refer to Annex E for the crime prevention advisory on Theft in Dwelling through the ‘fishing’ method)

Be vigilant against cyber extortion

There has been an increase in the number of cyber extortion cases involving female suspects attempting to extort money from male victims. The suspects attempted to extort money by threatening to post photos or videos of the victims following an online cyber-sex session over a web camera. The number of cases has increased from 11 for the whole of 2011 to 32 cases from January to July this year. The female suspects claimed to be from the Philippines, Korea or Japan. Despite the increase in cases, the suspects were largely unsuccessful in their extortion attempts with only one successful extortion attempt reported, where a victim transferred $500 to a suspect in June 2012. (Refer to Annex F for details on the modus operandi and crime prevention advisory.)

Beware of ‘Microsoft’ phone scams

A new phone scam trend was observed early this year with victims receiving phone calls from suspects who claimed to be representatives from the computer firm ‘Microsoft’. Of the 32 cases reported in the first half of this year, five victims transferred a total sum of $1,462 to scammers, each transferring amounts between $100 and $800. Although the amount involved is relatively small in comparison to other types of phone scams, the public is advised to be vigilant against this new variation of phone scam. (Refer to Annex G on the crime prevention advisory on ‘Microsoft’ phone scams)

Last updated: 14 August 2012