THE four young suspects are believed to have struck late at
night, with one climbing over the gates of houses and taking
CashCards from unlocked cars while the rest stood watch.
The haul for the quartet, aged between 14 and 24, was more than
10 CashCards from homes in Serangoon Garden before a vigilant
resident caught them in the act early on Wednesday morning.
He called the police after spotting one of them climbing into
his neighbour's house in Li Hwan Close at around 1am.
He described the four to police officers who later spotted the
group at a nearby Caltex petrol station.
One of the suspects tried to get rid of the CashCards in the
station's toilet but they were recovered by officers and the four
were arrested.
The group - three males aged 14 to 24 and a 22-year-old woman -
were charged in court yesterday with attempted theft.
They may face more charges when their case is mentioned again on
May 26. All were ordered to be remanded, with the youngest member,
14, at the Singapore Boys' Home.
Serangoon Garden residents said that in the past year they had
noticed more groups of youth hanging around the area, drawn by the
dining and drinking spots there.
"It's dangerous as many residents here leave their cars unlocked
in their porches," said teacher Yu Jun, 38, who lives with her
parents in a semi-detached house in Brighton Crescent.
(Taken from The Straits Times, Friday, May 20 2011, Page C4)