SINGAPORE: A private estate has become the latest target
of loan sharks. Eight units at Eastwood Terrace in Bedok were
vandalised in what's believed to be the first reported case of loan
shark harassment at a private estate.
42-year-old American, Wesley Heiser, was eager to move in
to his new place at Eastwood Terrace until vandals crept into the
district and left a mess.
The resident at Eastwood Terrace said: "My wife and I decided to
make Singapore our permanent home and so we made our first home
purchase. The purchase was completed two days ago. Within the past
two days, the house has been painted twice and we didn't know that
the seller had owed money to illegal moneylenders."
Bags of red paint were splashed at neighbouring houses and
cars.
The vandals left notes all over the road which read "Because of
her, this happened".
Neighbours said this isn't the first time the unit has been
vandalised.
Jasmine Siew, immediate neighbour of Mr Heiser, said: "Two or three
days back, while we were driving out, we saw this bag of paint at
our new neighbour's house. So we were quite puzzled."
Residents are taking no risks. One unit even installed security
cameras.
James Yap, resident, Eastwood Terrace, said: "If nobody were to
create a deterrent for them, then definitely they'll get bolder.
Because if they see you have touched up your place and made good
again, then they'll come again.
“So for us, there's only so much we can do to protect ourselves.
Short of hiring a security guard in front of our house, we are but
sitting ducks and waiting for them to abuse us."
Neighbours described the previous owners to be cold and
inconsiderate.
Some had made complaints to the Police about their noisy mahjong
activities in the night.
Residents said they often saw a middle-aged woman, her husband, and
two men in their twenties in the house.
They also had three cars which residents said were often
indiscriminately parked."
Ms Siew added: "I think it's very unfair to all of us especially to
the new neighbour because they just bought the house without
knowing anything about the old neighbour. And for us, we are not
very close to the old neighbour so we couldn't contact her at
all."
Police have been notified of the incident and are investigating the
matter.
- CNA/vm