A 48-year-old man has been arrested in Yishun for allegedly stealing clothes left along common corridors of HDB flats. Police investigations revealed that the incidents took place between 15 and 25 August 2025, when multiple residents reported missing laundry and a suspicious individual loitering in the neighbourhood.
The first case was reported on 15 August, when a woman discovered her jacket missing from the common corridor outside her home. The next day, another resident reported that his shirt and pants had vanished from his laundry rack. In the days that followed, several reports surfaced of a man behaving suspiciously near residential blocks in the Yishun Ring Road area.
Police Used CCTV to Track Suspect
Through extensive ground enquiries and the review of CCTV footage, officers from the Woodlands Police Division managed to establish the suspect’s identity. The man was subsequently arrested on 28 August 2025, and the jacket allegedly stolen from the first victim was recovered in his possession.
Police confirmed that he will be charged in court on 30 August 2025 with the offence of theft under Section 379 of the Penal Code 1871. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
Reminder for Residents to Stay Vigilant
The arrest highlights how seemingly minor thefts can disrupt the peace and security of residential estates. Authorities urge residents to remain alert, secure their belongings, and report any suspicious activity immediately. Leaving items such as clothing, bicycles, or personal belongings in common corridors may create opportunities for theft, especially in open-access HDB estates.
The Police also emphasised their commitment to maintaining safety in Singapore’s heartlands, noting that swift investigations and the use of CCTV surveillance continue to play a vital role in solving neighbourhood crimes.