A durian vendor at Block 827 Tampines Street 81 in Singapore successfully intervened when a man snatched S$600 from the hands of a 70-year-old woman near an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), according to Shin Min Daily News.
The incident took place on July 5, 2023. The durian vendor, Mr. Huang, who happened to be present at the scene, stepped in to help the distressed woman and subdue the man.
Mr. Huang, a durian vendor who typically works in Malaysia, was fortunate to have the day off when this incident occurred. He was visiting his younger brother at the fruit stall where his brother was employed.
As fate would have it, Mr. Huang heard the screams of a woman while he was at the fruit stall. Sensing the urgency, a male provision shop assistant rushed over to the fruit stall and informed Mr. Huang that a man had snatched money from an elderly woman. He implored Mr. Huang and others present to help apprehend the thief.
Mr. Huang swiftly sprang into action. He ventured outside and quickly located the alleged perpetrator—a slender man dressed in a white shirt. He then confronted the thief, taking hold of his throat and preventing his escape.
Members of the public who were present at the scene also recorded videos of the incident. The woman was able to recover her S$600 as the alleged perpetrator gave up his loot and returned it.
Singapore Police Force’s statement
MAN ARRESTED FOR SNATCH THEFT WITHIN THREE HOURS
The Police have arrested a 46-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of snatch theft.
On 5 July 2023 at about 9.45pm, the Police were alerted to a case of snatch theft near an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) along Tampines Street 81 where a man had purportedly snatched cash amounting to $600 from a female victim.
Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him within three hours of the report. The stolen cash was recovered.
The man will be charged in court on 7 July 2023 with the offence of snatch theft under Section 356 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of not less than one year and not more than seven years, and caning.
The Police will not tolerate such brazen acts of crime and will spare no effort to apprehend such offenders and deal with them in accordance with the law.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 July 2023 @ 2:30 PM