---
title: "Alleged iPhone thief outruns 3 Hougang phone shop staff, 1 worker even injured back"
url: "/trending-now/alleged-iphone-thief-outruns-3-hougang-phone-shop-staff-1-worker-even-injured-back"
published: "2026-10-21T09:12:02.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-21T09:38:54.000Z"
section: "Trending Now"
authors: ["Ethel Tseng"]
tags: ["Hougang","mobile phone shop","chase","man","snatch theft","iphone","injury","TNP News"]
---

# Alleged iPhone thief outruns 3 Hougang phone shop staff, 1 worker even injured back

*Three employees at a Hougang mobile phone shop gave chase to a man who snatched an iPhone from the store but did not manage to catch him, with one of the staff members sustaining a back injury in the process.*

Three employees at a Hougang mobile phone shop gave chase to a man who allegedly snatched an iPhone from the store but did not manage to catch him, with one of the staff members even sustaining a back injury in the process.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident happened at about 1pm on Oct 20 at a mobile phone shop in Block 811 Hougang Central.

Shop employee Jiang Jin Qi (transliterated) told reporters that the man, who appeared to be in his 20s and had tattoos covering his left arm, entered the shop wearing a helmet and asked to see an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, after taking a brief look at the phone, the man suddenly grabbed it and fled.

“I immediately chased after him and searched the surrounding area, but I couldn’t find him. I returned to the shop to contact my other colleagues to help mind the store before heading out to search again with another colleague,” the 34-year-old employee said.

Jiang later enlisted a third colleague to help look for the man. After failing to find him, the employees returned to the shop and lodged a police report.

“The three of us ran around the area for 15 minutes until we were panting, but we still couldn’t find him. The phone was worth nearly $2,000, and I’m afraid we won’t get it back,” he said.

![hougang phone shop staff chases man who snatched $2,000 iphone](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/90ef5ba25ebb0b3688a9ef421a51c3933447d49f220366bb32b987afabe134cb)

It was the first time such an incident had happened at the shop, which has been operating for more than five years, Jiang added.

The experience has left him shaken, and he now keeps a close eye on customers whenever he retrieves devices for them to inspect.

CCTV footage provided by Jiang showed the man wearing a white T-shirt and donning a helmet.

In response to Stomp’s queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.

## Employee pulls back muscle during struggle with suspect

Cai Jin Hong, 34, who also works at the phone shop, told reporters that he caught up with the suspect during the chase and managed to grab his backpack. However, the man struggled free, causing Cai to lose his footing and strain his back muscles.

Another employee, Chen Jing Fu, 36, who helped search for the suspect, said they looked around the shopping area and even checked the nearby bus stop, MRT station, and shopping mall toilets, but found nothing.

Chen said that they were subsequently informed that the suspect had fled on an electric bicycle.

## Shop worries phone could lose value if seized as evidence

Jiang expressed concern that even if the suspect is caught, police might seize the phone for investigations, causing it to depreciate.

He noted that phone prices drop quickly, and the value of the device could fall by several hundred dollars if it were held for just two or three months.

“Even if we eventually get it back, we would still have to bear the difference in value. We would be suffering a loss through no fault of our own.”