3 men with Spanish, Columbian and Mexican citizenships nabbed for housebreaking and theft in Bukit Timah area
Three foreigners were arrested for their suspected involvement in three cases of housebreaking and theft within 27 hours of the first case being reported.
They are:
- a Spanish-Colombian man with dual citizenship, 60
- a Mexican man, 51
- a Mexican-Colombian man with dual citizenship, 48
The police were alerted to three cases of housebreaking at three residential units along Cluny Park, Dunearn Close and Eng Neo Avenue from May 9 to 10.
Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from CCTVs and police cameras, officers from Tanglin Police Division, Police Operations Command Centre, Police Intelligence Department, Gurkha Contingent, Special Operations Command and Home Team Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command established the identities of the suspects.
The police arrested the three men on May 11.
A car, a circular power saw, an assortment of jewellery, as well as cash amounts of more than S$6,000, 3,100 euros (S$4,500) and US$6,400 (S$8,300) were recovered from the trio.
They will be charged in court on May 12 for housebreaking and theft with common intention. If convicted, they may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term that may extend to 10 years and also a fine.
Two members of the public had provided key witness accounts to the police which assisted in the swift arrest.
On the evening of May 9, Madam Lily Tan, a homemaker in her 50s, and her son Shane Lee, 16, were exercising near their home when they saw a car that made them suspicious, reported The Straits Times.
Shane said the area is secluded and not many strangers drive there.
"When they drove past, we thought they could be in a Grab car or were visitors, but when they circled back, we became more suspicious," said the student.
After the car cruised around for a third time, the mother and son took down its registration number.
The next day, a neighbour messaged to ask them if they had seen anything suspicious, as there had been a burglary.
Madam Tan and Shane told the neighbour what they had seen the night before and made a police report.
They were presented with certificates of appreciation in recognition of their community partnership with the police.
