Channel NewsAsia - Friday,
December 28
Taxi driver helps
police nab suspect involved in snatch theft
SINGAPORE: A taxi drivers quick action helped police nab a
22yearold suspect in a snatch theft case.
The suspect tried to escape but police managed to track his getaway
vehicle along the Central Expressway (CTE). And that was only
possible because the cab driver had provided the police with the
vehicles licence plate number.
The suspect was eventually caught at Blk 5070, Ang Mo Kio
Industrial Park 2.
A total of S$3,000 was recovered after police arrested the
suspected snatch thief, but his accomplices had made away with
another S$14,000 in various currencies.
All the cash had been in a bag belonging to a 20yearold
woman.
She was walking in Wheelock Place on Orchard Road Wednesday
morning, on her way to the bank, when a man came from behind and
snatched her bag.
He and two other accomplices then ran towards Orchard Boulevard
where the trio split up.
Taxi driver Choo Lye Seng saw two of them getting into a getaway
vehicle, driven by another accomplice.
"I saw two men running towards me. Instinctively I knew something
was wrong. I then saw a girl running after them, shouting
Robbery! The girl looked helpless and I didnt know what to do,
except to call the police," said the 53yearold taxi driver.
Mr Choo managed to provide the police with the vehicles licence
plate number, and with that information, police were able to track
the suspect in one and a half hours.
Commander of Tanglin police division Paul Lim said, "Police does
not work alone. We cannot be on the street every moment, so we
depend very much on members of public to provide us with valuable
and critical information that can help us to solve crimes and
apprehend criminals."
Police are now looking for the other three suspects. CNA/ac