Three men suspected of stealing bicycles in Pasir Ris, have been arrested by the police.

On Tuesday afternoon, a member of the public who is part of the volunteer programme Citizens-On-Patrol, saw two men acting suspiciously as they carried two bicycles into a van near Pasir Ris Street 21. The member of the public then alerted the police, said a statement on Wednesday evening.

Officers from Bedok Police Division who responded to the call, arrested three men near Pasir Ris Drive 4 where they found two stolen bicycles inside the van. Investigations against the three suspects are ongoing. If convicted of theft, they face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.

The growing popularity of cycling, as a sport and as a way to get around, has been accompanied by a rise in the number of bicycle thefts - from around 700 in 2010 to more than 1,200 in 2012.

Commander of Bedok Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Alvin Moh, commended the member of public for his alertness and public-spiritedness. He said the arrest highlights the importance of community engagement and involvement in the fight against crime. DAC Moh said: "Criminals would be afraid of committing crimes if the community works with the police, looks out for suspicious persons and activities, and actively comes forward to help those in trouble."