SINGAPORE: A 63-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing over 100 pieces of clothing worth more than S$5,500 (US$4,071), the police said on Monday (May 6).
The police said they were alerted by a store manager at about 9pm on May 5 that a woman was “behaving suspiciously” in a retail outlet along Harbourfront Walk.
The store manager detained the woman, who allegedly had several pieces of unpaid clothing in her possession.
Police later arrested her and more than 100 pieces of branded items believed to be stolen were recovered from her place of accommodation.
“The total value of the items that were allegedly stolen by her was more than $5,500,” the police said.
Preliminary investigations have revealed the woman is suspected to be involved in several shop theft cases at multiple retail outlets along Harbourfront Walk and Bayfront Avenue.
She will be charged in court on Tuesday with theft in dwelling. If found guilty, the woman faces up to seven years’ jail and a fine.
The police said they take a serious view of shop theft cases. “Offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law,” they added.
They also advised retailers to adopt the following measures to protect their stores against theft:
- Ensure a good line of sight for the displays by using an appropriate shop layout.
- Display advisory posters or signage against shop theft.
- Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations like nearby cashier counters.
- Install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) with recording system at the entrance or exit of the store to capture the facial features of shoppers.
- Deploy adequate security personnel to patrol the premises in luminous vests for increased visual deterrence effect.
