A MALAYSIAN man whose helmet was stolen, decided to steal one from a parked motorcycle.

Using a cigarette lighter, carpenter Huang Soon Haw, 23, then burned the strap of the helmet, detaching it from the motorcycle, before making off with it.

But what he did not realise was that the burning strap, still attached to the motorcycle, soon sparked a blaze which ravaged 11 motorcycles.

On Thursday, Huang was sentenced in a district court to six weeks' jail. District Judge Jasbendar Kaur backdated his sentence to his arrest on Oct 17 which means he could be eligible for release.

In the dock, Huang broke down when he saw his parents and six-year-old daughter weeping uncontrollably - perhaps relieved that his ordeal is now over. His family had arrived from Johor Bahru earlier this week, the court heard.

On Oct 11, Huang parked his motorcycle at a carpark near Block 6A Woodlands Central Road, securing his helmet on it, before leaving for Malaysia through Woodlands Checkpoint.

When he returned the next day, he found his helmet missing. Left without a spare one, he decided to steal a helmet strapped to one of the motorcycles parked in the vicinity.

As he did not have any cutting tools, he resorted to using his cigarette lighter to burn through the strap of the helmet.

He left on his motorcycle when he was done five minutes later.

However, the burning strap left attached to the motorcycle soon ignited a blaze which completely gutted not just that bike, but three others parked nearby. A further seven motorcycles ended up with melted rear box compartments due to the heat.

The total damage caused by the fire was estimated to be about $4,700.