ather Sentenced for Stealing Toys from Claw Machine to Please His Children
In a case that has drawn attention in Singapore, a 39-year-old father, Mohamad Fazil Bin Jantan, was sentenced to one week and three days in jail for stealing 55 toys valued at approximately S$300 from a claw machine at Sembawang Shopping Centre. The incident occurred on January 6, 2023, when the father took his three children to the mall, where they expressed frustration over their inability to win any prizes from the machines.
According to court documents, the family entered a claw machine shop around 10 PM after spending time at various other machines without success. In a moment of desperation to please his children, Mohamad Fazil lifted the claw machine and tilted it backward, causing numerous toys to spill out through the prize retrieval hatch. He repeated this action multiple times, ultimately allowing the family to collect a total of 55 toys, which they placed in a plastic bag and a shopping cart before leaving the store.
The store owner discovered the theft later that night when he found the claw machines empty. After reviewing the surveillance footage, he identified Mohamad Fazil and reported the incident to the police. Authorities managed to track him down four days later, on January 10, and recovered the stolen toys.
In addition to the claw machine theft, Mohamad Fazil was also implicated in another theft incident at a clothing store in Causeway Point on February 7, 2024. He had taken two pieces of clothing into the fitting room but only paid for one. He managed to leave the store with both items, as the RFID tag on the unpaid item had been removed, preventing the anti-theft alarm from triggering.
The court’s decision to impose a sentence reflects the seriousness of the theft, despite the father’s intentions to bring joy to his children. The case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of theft, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the act. Mohamad Fazil’s actions, while motivated by a desire to please his children, ultimately led to a criminal conviction that will have lasting implications for him and his family.