Mailbox vandal on the loose

QX179R SG

Vandal strikes on New Year's Eve

SINGAPORE : As New Year revellers looked on - and walked on - he brazenly spray-painted a mailbox on Orchard Road.

But that was not the only mailbox defaced.

A vandal struck at SingPost mailboxes across the island over the New Year weekend, and his acts were caught on video by several passers-by who posted clips on YouTube and other websites.

Although some eyewitnesses were angered, nobody seemed to have stopped him.

"While on the way home from work, I came across this masked man vandalising the mailbox and getting away with it!" wrote netizen xxgunnerxx, who spotted the vandal at Bukit Batok interchange.

"Although there (were) still people walking around the area, no one seemed brave enough to stop the guy from vandalising the mailbox," wrote another eyewitness, T K Poh, who was at Holland Village.

Masked, gloved and wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt and dark pants, the vandal also used a stencil to spray-paint the word "Inkman" on the side of the mailboxes.

When contacted on Sunday, SingPost could not comment by press time.

Meanwhile, the police are urging anyone with more information on the incidents caught on video to lodge a police report at the nearest Neighbourhood Police Centre.

- TODAY/ms

hisoka SG

they expect people to try and catch the guy and risk injury? Just to keep the mail boxes clean?

But hopefully the people reported the incident and passed the police the videos

QX179R SG

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/in_the_heartlands/301040/culprit_gets_more_brazen_serial_mailbox_vandal_also_defacing.html

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/300172/first_holland_v_now_bt_batok.html

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/300064/caught_in_the_act_man_vandalises_mailbox_on_new_years_day.html

SMB92U SG

turns out to be SingPost itself! :S

QX179R SG

turns out to be SingPost itself! :S

Meia Gisborn SG

Cool! Michael Fay's back in Singapore!

QX179R SG

PR stunt gone wrong?

CALL it a publicity stunt gone wrong.

Several 'acts of vandalism' carried out on SingPost mailboxes over the past few days, attracting public attention, now appear to be an attempt by SingPost to drum up publicity - and the police have stepped in.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times about the stunt, which involved mailboxes being spray-painted by a shadowy figure dubbed the Inkman, police said last night they would be contacting SingPost about it.

A police spokesman said: 'Police will be taking the matter up with SingPost as this whole episode has caused unnecessary public alarm and wasted valuable resources.'

She said SingPost had sent an e-mail query to the police about the need for a permit for a possible advertising event. 'It, however, did not provide us the full picture and details of the publicity stunt.'

The saga began with viral videos making the rounds on several websites, including The Straits Times' online portal Stomp and YouTube, of a masked man spray-painting the mailboxes before walking away or getting into a waiting car.

--ST

fudgester SG

It's confirmed: it was a publicity stunt from SingPost.

Linkie: http://www.938live.sg/News/Singapore/EDC100106-0000252/Vandalised_posting_boxes_a_mere_publicity_stunt

"Vandalised' posting boxes a mere publicity stunt

SingPost has apologised for the recent 'acts of vandalism' carried out on its mailboxes over the past few days.

At a news conference today to announce a sponsorship deal with the Youth Olympic Games, SingPost says it had commissioned the graffiti as a viral marketing effort.

Jeremy Koh tells us more.

With the words "Break Out" spray-painted all over, the mailbox across from Heeren in the heart of the Orchard Road shopping district appears to have been the target of vandals.

But that's not the case.

The mailbox is one of six that have been spray-painted during the New Year period by SingPost.

It was done in conjunction with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games sponsorship.

And the saga is a lead in to the STAMP 02 competition which will see participants painting 40 mailboxes islandwide.

Steve Ng is the Vice President of Marketing at SingPost.

"As part of the YOG is also talking about self expressing, it's really about sports and arts, and sports and arts is really about expressing yourself and that's the core spirit of it. "

For good or for bad, the spray-painted mailboxes have certainly caught the eye of members of the public.

And some of them have even posted clips on YouTube and other websites.

But as a marketing tool, has it worked?

Here's what some members of the public think.

"I think it's vandalism, of course bad la, a bit gangsterish."

"It doesn't send out the message, what's the purpose of the marketing. "

"Ya it's eyecatching, but you can't tell if it's advertisement or graffitti. "

The Police is certainly not amused.

In a statement, they said they'll be taking the matter up with SingPost as the whole episode has caused unnecessary public alarm and wasted valuable resources.

They added that while the organiser did send an email query to one of the Police units about the need for a Police permit for a possible advertising event they were holding, the organiser did not provide the full picture and details of the publicity stunt.

SingPost says it'll be working closely with the police on this matter.

Wilson Tan is the group chief executive at SingPost.

"I'll like to apologise to all the parties concerned for any inconveniences caused, i think that was never the intent."

As the Official Postal Services sponsor of the YOG, SingPost will provide local and overseas delivery of the Games tickets.

It will also sell YOG merchandise through its post offices and online portal.

QX179R SG

SingPost apologises for "acts of vandalism" on mailboxes

SINGAPORE: SingPost has apologised for the "acts of vandalism" on its mailboxes recently.

At a news conference to announce a sponsorship deal with the Youth Olympic Games, SingPost said it had commissioned the graffiti as a viral marketing effort.

The mailbox along Orchard Road appears to have been the target of vandals. But that is not the case. It was one of six spray-painted during the New Year period by SingPost itself, as part of its Singapore Youth Olympic Games sponsorship.

The saga is a lead in to the STAMP 02 competition, which will see participants painting 40 mailboxes islandwide.

Steve Ng, vice president, Marketing, SingPost, said: "As part of the YOG is also talking about self expressing, it's really about sports and arts. And sports and arts is really about expressing yourself and that's the core spirit of it."

Good or bad, the spray-painted mailboxes certainly caught the eye of the public. Some even posted clips on YouTube and other websites.

But has it worked as a marketing tool?

Said one man in the street: "It doesn't send out the message. What's the purpose of the marketing?"

The police is certainly not amused, saying it will take the matter up with SingPost as the episode had caused unnecessary public alarm and wasted valuable resources.

They said the organiser did send an email query to one of their units about the need for a police permit for a possible advertising event they were holding. But the organiser did not provide the full picture and details of the publicity stunt.

SingPost said it will be working closely with the police on the matter.

Wilson Tan, group chief executive, SingPost, said: "I'll like to apologise to all the parties concerned for any inconveniences caused. I think that was never the intent."

The YOG Organising Committee said it was not aware of SingPost's approach for the YOG-related viral marketing campaign, but said people should let the matter slide.

Goh Kee Nguan, CEO, Singapore YOG Organising Committee, said: "The intent is right. They wanted to engage youths and wanted to link youths and sports and more importantly (provide) a platform for youths to express themselves."

As the YOG's Official Postal Services sponsor, SingPost will provide local and overseas delivery of the Games tickets. It will also sell YOG merchandise through its post offices and online portal.

- 938LIVE/vm

MR HomeLook - er SG

this guy is taking his dire need for expression a little to far. maybe he should change his MO and become a designer or something. then he can paint designs in homes and other buildings for good clean money