An 88-year-old elderly woman, Madam Shen, allegedly had her wallet stolen by a pickpocket who pretended to help her with her bags at Bendemeer, according to Shin Min Daily News.
She was on her way home in Bendemeer when a “kind samaritan” offered to help her put her groceries inside a plastic bag.
When Madam Shen returned home, she couldn’t find her wallet (which had $700 inside) and realised that it had been stolen.
She then lodged a police report and police investigations are currently ongoing.
Shin Min Daily News reported that the incident happened on 25 January, and Madam Shen was on her way home at the time after buying some daily necessities and some TOTO lottery tickets.
She was then stopped by a middle-aged woman who offered to help Madam Shen pack some pieces of cloth on her trolley into a plastic bag.
Madam Shen rejected her “help” and the woman then allegedly threw her things onto the floor, and Madam Shen was then left with no other choice but to bend down to pick up the things that the woman threw.
She then saw the woman opening the lid of her trolley as she got back up, and she asked the woman what she was doing.
The woman then got upset at being called out by the elderly woman and hastily left. At the time, Madam Shen didn’t notice anything was amiss at the time and continued on her way home.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Madam Shen said that she didn’t realise her wallet was gone until she reached home and started packing her things.
She had lost her wallet which had about $700 in cash inside, as well as the TOTO lottery tickets that she had purchased.
The Singapore Police Force confirmed that they have received a report of the alleged theft and are investigating the incident.