7-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) A durian vendor became a local hero when he intervened and apprehended a man who snatched S$600 from a 70-year-old woman near an ATM at Block 827 Tampines Street 81 on July 5, 2023.
The Good Samaritan, surnamed Huang, works in Malaysia but happened to be on his day off when the incident unfolded. He was visiting his younger brother, who works at a nearby fruit stall.
Huang recounted the events to Shin Min Daily News, stating that he heard a woman screaming and was informed by a provision shop assistant that a man had stolen money from an elderly woman. The assistant asked for their help, prompting Huang to take immediate action.
Upon stepping outside, Huang spotted the male suspect, described as very skinny and wearing a white shirt. Members of the public captured videos of the incident, showing Huang swiftly approaching the man and subduing him by grabbing him by the throat just as the suspect attempted to flee.
Thanks to Huang’s intervention, the woman was able to retrieve her stolen money as the alleged perpetrator handed it back.
In a press release on July 6, the Singapore Police Force confirmed the case of snatch theft near the ATM at Tampines Street 81. They received the report on July 5 at approximately 9:45 p.m. Through ground inquiries and surveillance footage, the police quickly identified and apprehended the suspect within three hours, successfully recovering the stolen cash.
The man has been charged with snatch theft in court on July 7, a crime that carries a prison sentence of not less than one year and not more than seven years, as well as caning.
The police expressed their zero-tolerance policy toward such audacious acts of crime and assured the public that they would spare no effort in apprehending offenders and dealing with them according to the law.
