In a quiet Singapore neighbourhood, what began as a small act of kindness for an elderly neighbour turned into a heartbreaking incident that left many online feeling upset and protective over the vulnerable.
Early in the morning, an elderly woman in her 70s found herself locked out of her HDB unit after her house key broke. A kind-hearted neighbour and a few others quickly gathered to help. One resident, seeing the auntie’s distress, offered to call a locksmith. Meanwhile, the elderly woman asked if anyone had a long stick to retrieve her handbag from inside her flat, where a spare key was kept.
Through a stroke of teamwork and luck, they managed to retrieve the bag and successfully unlocked the door — all before the locksmith arrived. Wanting to be fair, the auntie insisted on still paying for his petrol.
Locksmith Shows Up Angry, Demands Full Payment
When the locksmith finally arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Described by the neighbour as “visibly furious”, the locksmith raised his voice at the group, scolding them for calling him out at 7am only to cancel the job. One resident calmly explained, “Your ad says 24-hour service. Auntie didn’t know better and still offered to compensate you.”
Unmoved, the locksmith reportedly snapped, “Wouldn’t you be angry if someone woke you at 7am?” He then demanded $80, despite not having done any unlocking work. The elderly woman, without resistance, asked if he could at least take a quick look at the lock — but he ignored her completely.
Auntie Wipes Tears, Internet Offers Support
After the locksmith left, the neighbour noticed the elderly woman quietly wiping away her tears, murmuring, “It’s okay… he wants it, just give it to him.” She’s still working despite her age, and $80 was no small sum to her. Witnessing this moved many netizens to tears, with one offering to PayNow the full amount on her behalf.
Comments on the viral post were mixed. While some defended the locksmith for his time and early wake-up call, others criticised his rude attitude and the lack of compassion toward an elderly woman just trying to make things right.
Protecting Seniors From Service Exploitation
This story has become a reminder to carefully vet service providers, especially when it involves seniors who live alone. Many in the community called for stronger regulations on service listings, especially those claiming “24-hour availability” without clear terms for cancellations.
Others pointed out that sticking service ads illegally on HDB walls and doors is an offence under the Vandalism Act — a detail the authorities could investigate, if complaints are filed.
Kampung Spirit Still Alive, But So Is Caution
While the incident was distressing, it also shone a light on Singapore’s enduring kampung spirit — neighbours looking out for one another. The lesson here is twofold: continue helping, but do so with more informed choices and caution, especially when engaging unknown vendors.
Have a story like this? Share it — because real kindness, and the courage to stand up for our elderly, always deserves the spotlight.