Chinese National Jailed 3 Years 8 Months After Breaking Into Singapore Homes and Stealing S$105,750 in Valuables
A 41-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after breaking into homes in Singapore and stealing valuables worth an estimated S$105,750.
Huang Xiaozong pleaded guilty to two charges of housebreaking in court on 14 August 2026. A separate charge relating to trespassing was taken into consideration during sentencing.
Court documents showed that Huang arrived in Singapore on 5 December 2025 and stayed at a hotel in Little India. It was his first trip to the country. Shortly after arriving, he decided to steal from residential properties after forming the view that Singapore was wealthy and that he could make money by targeting homes where nobody appeared to be present.
Luxury Suite Targeted At Sentosa
The following day, Huang travelled to Sentosa and walked around the area before coming across a suite at Capella Singapore. He noticed that the lights were switched off and believed there was nobody inside.
Huang gained access through a rear balcony door after forcing open the sliding door. Once inside, he searched the property and found jewellery in a glass display cabinet in the living room, as well as additional valuables in a wardrobe in the master bedroom.
Among the items taken was a Chanel watch valued at approximately S$30,000, five rings worth around S$25,000 and a gold necklace valued at about S$3,000. The total value of the items stolen from the suite was estimated at S$58,000.
Huang subsequently returned to his hotel. The theft was discovered two days later, on 8 December, when a housekeeper noticed footprints on the floor, displaced furniture and an empty glass cabinet. Hotel management was alerted and the police were called.
Jewellery Stolen From Serangoon Home
Huang had already targeted another property the day before the Sentosa break-in. On 7 December, he researched residential areas online before travelling to Serangoon.
Between 7pm and 8pm, he found a house that appeared to be unoccupied. The property was in darkness, prompting Huang to climb over a metal gate to enter.
He searched one of the bedrooms and took jewellery from a dressing table. The stolen items were valued at approximately S$47,750 and included two Tiffany & Co wedding rings estimated to be worth S$25,000.
Other items included a Tiffany & Co heart-shaped diamond key pendant valued at around S$10,000, a pair of diamond earrings worth about S$5,000 and a white gold diamond necklace estimated at S$5,000.
Huang also took several bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings of varying values.
After leaving the property, he decided to target another house in the same area. He arrived at around 8pm and again climbed over a metal gate.
This time, however, he was confronted by a domestic helper who was inside the house. When questioned about his presence, Huang responded in Mandarin, which the helper did not understand. He then climbed back out and fled.
The homeowner returned shortly afterwards and discovered that her dressing table had been disturbed and her wedding rings were missing. Her husband contacted the police at around 8.41pm.
Stolen Items Recovered After Arrest
Following the offences, Huang returned to his hotel before moving to another establishment along Kampong Bahru Road on 8 December.
Police eventually traced him to the second hotel and arrested him that evening. The stolen valuables were found in his possession and subsequently seized by the authorities.
Huang has remained in remand since his arrest.
During sentencing, prosecutors sought a prison term of between three years and nine months and four years and one month. They highlighted that Huang had deliberately scouted residential properties that he believed were empty before entering them to steal valuables.
The prosecution also described the case as transnational in nature, noting that Huang began committing the offences just one day after arriving in Singapore.
His defence lawyers argued for a lower sentence, describing his actions as relatively “amateurish”. They also pointed out that the stolen valuables had been recovered, meaning the eventual financial losses suffered by the victims were limited.
For housebreaking, offenders can face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
The sentence of three years and eight months reflects the seriousness with which Singapore courts treat unauthorised entry into residential properties, particularly where offenders deliberately identify apparently unoccupied homes before stealing high-value possessions.