In a peculiar and audacious turn of events, three individuals hailing from China ventured into Singapore with a mission that involved stealing from churches and temples using an unconventional method they had learned from Douyin videos, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The culprits, Zou Fangshou, Qin Xiaonuo, and Qin Chaoban, were handed seven months’ imprisonment each for their illicit activities on Thursday, November 2.
The three men faced a single charge of theft with common intention, which collectively amounted to S$1,479 (approximately US$1,082). Additionally, they had smaller amounts in various other currencies.
The Unusual Culprits
Zou Fangshou
- Age: 32
Qin Xiaonuo
- Age: 29
Qin Chaoban
- Age: 38
The Charges
The court learned that the trio had acquired their dubious skills by watching videos on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) that demonstrated a crafty technique for pilfering from donation boxes. This method involved a simple setup consisting of a string, a piece of metal, and sticky tape.
When the piece of metal with sticky tape was inserted into the donation box, the money bills adhered to the exposed sticky part of the tape, allowing the perpetrator to effectively “fish” for the cash.
To further disguise their actions, Zou Fangshou purchased a black bag in China that had a hole and a zipper, which he modified to cover the act of theft. The bag served as a smokescreen, allowing the thief to place it over the donation box’s mouth, pretending to rummage through it while covertly fishing for money.
Their Arrival in Singapore
The trio arrived in Singapore on September 6 earlier this year, holding social visit passes. Shortly after their arrival, they procured the necessary materials—pieces of metal, string, and tape—from shops in the vicinity of their hotel. They then retreated to their room to hone their newfound skill.
On September 7 and 8, Zou Fangshou utilized his mobile phone to identify churches and temples in Singapore to target for their thievery. The three of them took taxis to reach their chosen locations.
Over the course of two days, they visited three churches, two temples, and one monastery, spreading their criminal activities across locations like Thomson Road, Punggol, and Woodlands. The modus operandi involved taking turns “fishing” for money from the donation boxes while maintaining vigilance and communicating via their mobile phones.
Caught on Camera
Their audacious crimes didn’t go unnoticed. Closed-circuit television cameras recorded the trio as they brazenly stole from the donation boxes.
Employees in the places of worship grew suspicious of the three men, who were loitering with an air of suspicion. Consequently, they reported their concerns to the police.
In an astonishing display of community vigilance, photos of the three culprits were shared in a WhatsApp chat group containing church staff and volunteers from all over Singapore. The sharing of information aimed to alert others about the presence of these individuals and their nefarious activities.
Attempt to Dispose of Evidence
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Zou Fangshou and his cohorts. Realizing that an employee at the Church of the Transfiguration was keeping a close eye on them, Zou sensed trouble brewing. In an attempt to avoid capture, he tossed the makeshift fishing device into the river, hoping to rid themselves of the incriminating evidence.
Once they believed they had eluded detection, Qin Chaoban procured another wooden stick, with intentions of using it for subsequent “fishing” operations.
Arrest and Seizure
Despite their efforts to evade the law, the police managed to trace the three men back to their hotel and promptly arrested them. During the arrests, various items were confiscated, including their clothing, the stick used in their crimes, the phones employed, the black bag with the hole at the bottom, and money in multiple currencies. Many of the bills had a sticky substance on them, further implicating the culprits.
In a twist of events, the three men admitted to stealing a significant sum from donation boxes. Their loot included S$1,479, US$16, RM 63, 26.05 yuan, CAD$10, HK$100, and 100 Omani Baisa. They confessed to having already spent some of the stolen money on various expenses, such as taxi fares. However, no restitution had been made at the time of their sentencing.