Two men aged 32 and 40 were arrested after allegedly stealing a diamond worth more than S$235,000 from a jewellery store along Kreta Ayer Road in Singapore.
The pair were detained at Changi Airport Terminal 3 within three hours after the incident was reported to the police, following a swift investigation involving CCTV footage and police camera images.
The stolen diamond was subsequently recovered and seized as evidence.
Suspects Allegedly Replaced Genuine Diamond With A Fake One
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), officers received a call for assistance at around 3:40pm on June 19 from a jewellery store located along Kreta Ayer Road.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the two men had entered the store and expressed interest in purchasing an expensive diamond.
While examining the gemstone, they allegedly swapped the genuine diamond with a fake one before leaving the shop without completing any purchase.
Shop Assistant Became Suspicious
The pair’s behaviour reportedly raised suspicions among staff members.
After conducting checks, a shop assistant discovered that the original diamond had been replaced with an imitation stone.
Police immediately launched investigations, carrying out ground enquiries while analysing CCTV footage and images captured by police cameras.
Officers from the Central Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre quickly established the identities of both suspects.
Arrested At Changi Airport Within Three Hours
The two men were arrested at Changi Airport Terminal 3 within three hours of the police report being lodged.
Authorities also managed to recover the stolen diamond before the suspects could leave Singapore.
The speedy arrest has drawn praise online, with many Singaporeans commending the efficiency of local law enforcement agencies.
Suspects To Face Theft Charges
Both men are expected to be charged on June 20 with theft in dwelling with common intention under Section 380 read with Section 34 of Singapore’s Penal Code.
If convicted, they could face a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
The case also serves as a reminder for businesses dealing with high-value luxury items, including diamonds and jewellery, to remain vigilant and maintain stringent security measures to prevent sophisticated theft attempts.
Authorities have not disclosed the nationalities of the two suspects or whether they were attempting to leave Singapore when they were arrested.