Woman allegedly steals 40 items from Muji at 100 AM mall, then clothes worth $581 from Zara at VivoCity on same day
A woman is suspected of stealing from shops in two malls on the same day.
The 32-year-old allegedly stole 11 clothing items amounting to about $581 from the Zara outlet at VivoCity on Sept 9, 2024.
When she attempted to leave without paying, she was detained by a staff member and was subsequently arrested by police.
Further investigations revealed that earlier that day, she had allegedly stolen 40 items amounting to about $881 from the Muji outlet at 100 AM mall.
She is one of 15 people, aged between 20 and 74, who will be charged in court from June 9 to 10 with theft in dwelling.
Another person to be charged is a 58-year-old man who had allegedly stolen three earbuds amounting to about $687 from the Challenger outlet at Causeway Point on Jan 24, 2025.
Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from CCTV footage, the police managed to establish his identity.
Seven out of the 15 suspects were identified through CCTV footage provided by retailers, said the police. The remainder were detected by vigilant staff or loss prevention officers.
The police added that during this mid-year school holidays period, they would like to remind retailers to be prepared for increased shopping activity and remain vigilant against shoplifters, especially when large crowds are expected.
Retailers are advised to adopt the following measures:
- Ensure a good line of sight for the displays by using an appropriate shop layout.
- Display advisory posters or signs against shop theft.
- Secure sale items or have them under surveillance by CCTV cameras, especially those places at extended areas.
- Do not leave items in the stall unattended after operating hours for stalls or bazaar.
- Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations, like near cashier counters.
- Install CCTVs with recording system at the entrance/exit of the store to capture the facial features of shoppers.
- Deploy adequate staff to patrol the premises to increase deterrence and engage customers as good service while ensuring retail safety.
- Implement crowd management measures to reduce opportunities for shop theft in high traffic areas.
- Be extra vigilant with seasonal high-value items such as gift hampers, festive goods, ensuring they are properly secured and monitored.
- Remind staff to be particularly alert during peak shopping hours and to report
any suspicious behaviours immediately.
The offence of theft in dwelling carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine.
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