TikTok user Heather Chan shared in a video about why she moved to Singapore from San Francisco, shedding light on the burgeoning crime rate in The Golden City which led to her moving to the Lion City for safety.
Chan originally hailed from Cupertino, California, before moving to San Francisco back in 2013 to pursue a career in architecture.
The Decline of San Francisco
It all began in 2014 when Proposition 47 was passed in San Francisco. This new law reclassified all property crimes, including robbery, as misdemeanors if the value of stolen items amounted to less than US$950 (S$1305.95).
The intent was to reduce the prison population, but the unintended consequence was a surge in theft, as perpetrators no longer faced felony charges.
Heather Chan, who lived in San Francisco during this period, recalls a growing sense of lawlessness in the city.
In her first year of owning a car back in 2021, Heather experienced three burglaries where the thieves smashed her car. This rise in property crimes left residents like her feeling vulnerable and frustrated.
Safety and Security in Singapore: A Breath of Fresh Air
In contrast to her experiences in San Francisco, Heather, who has been living in Singapore for the past six months, shares that safety is almost guaranteed here.
She explains that she deosn’t have to worry about her belongings and there is safety and security everywhere. To highlight the difference, she shared that back in San Francisco, when she got assaulted in broad daylight while returning home from a dental appointment, nobody came forward to help her.
In Singapore, the situation is remarkably different. Heather states that she can wear her earphones and even go for a run in the middle of the night and nothing bad will happen to her.
A Drastic Change of Lifestyle: From Fear to Freedom
One particularly harrowing incident stands out in Heather’s memory. She revealed that one week prior to her departure to Singapore, she was walking her dog along Rincon Hill in San Francisco, which is touted as one of the safest neighbourhoods in the city; when she saw a man running about 3 metres away from her with a gun in his hand.
She said that at that moment she saw her whole life flash before her eyes.
Whereas in Singapore, life is markedly different. Heather and her husband enjoy leisurely walks while playing Pokemon Go, with their only concerns being cars and motorized scooters.
The disparity in safety is further evident in the precautions taken by residents. In San Francisco, Heather mentions that her husband had to walk behind her, keeping a lookout for suspicious characters when she walked her dog.
Women in the city are encouraged to carry tasers or pepper spray for protection. However, for Heather, these measures seemed futile as she often froze up in stressful situations.
@unicornheatt Why I left San Francisco…and moved to Singapore Still love san francisco and left my heart there 🤍but i think san francisco in 2023 is just too dangerous and not worth the risk. #leavingsanfrancisco #sgexpat #movedabroad #sanfranciscocrime #leavingcalifornia ♬ original sound – unicornheatt
@unicornheatt Replying to @i_dunno_how_to_tiktok pt 2 for why I left San Francisco and picked Singapore! #sgtiktok #sgfyp #leavingusa ♬ original sound – unicornheatt