A 69-year-old retiree is counting the cost after his new Toyota Corolla was allegedly damaged by canned food thrown from an HDB block in Bedok, leaving noticeable dents on the vehicle’s bonnet.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of 15 July at an open-air car park in front of Block 127 Bedok North Street 2, where the car had been parked overnight.
The owner, identified only as Tang, said he had purchased the car earlier this year and was shocked to find it damaged less than seven months after taking ownership.
Dashcam Captures Cans Falling Onto Car
According to Tang, he parked his vehicle at around 1.20am and only noticed the damage when he returned at about 7am, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Initially, he struggled to believe what he was seeing.
“At first I couldn’t believe it. I had to look at the licence plate to confirm it was my car,” he reportedly said.
Fortunately, the vehicle was fitted with a dashcam. After reviewing the footage, Tang discovered that two cans had fallen from above and struck the bonnet.
He later found the items on the ground near the vehicle. One was a can of mushrooms, while the other contained baked beans.
Tang pointed out that both cans were unopened and had not expired.
“These two cans are unopened and not expired. I have no idea who did this,” he said.
Police Report Lodged As Investigations Continue
After collecting the cans, Tang placed them in a plastic bag and brought them to a neighbourhood police centre to make a report.
He believes officers also visited the car park as part of their investigations.
Singapore Police Force has since confirmed that a police report was lodged and that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the cans were deliberately thrown or accidentally dropped from one of the residential units above.
Repair Costs Claimed Through Insurance
The damage to the bonnet required repairs costing around S$3,000.
Although Tang initially considered paying for the repairs himself, he eventually decided to make an insurance claim.
Despite the successful claim, he still had to fork out S$600 for the vehicle assessment, while the car remained in the workshop for three days.
The incident has also changed his parking habits.
Instead of using the nearby open-air car park, Tang now parks at a multi-storey car park, even though it adds about a 10-minute walk to his journey home.
Another Damaged Can Found Nearby
When reporters visited the area the following day, another damaged can of mushrooms was reportedly found on a grassy patch nearby.
The can had burst open, with mushrooms and liquid spilling onto the ground.
However, several residents interviewed in the estate said they were unaware of any previous incidents involving items being thrown from upper floors.
High-rise littering remains a concern in Singapore, particularly when heavy objects are involved. Items thrown from height can cause significant property damage or serious injuries, and authorities regularly investigate such reports to identify those responsible.
Police investigations into this latest incident are ongoing.