FOUR youths, aged between 16 and 24 years old, were arrested on Monday for suspected involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases islandwide.

According to a statement released by the police on Tuesday, they investigated a harassment case in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 on June 22 this year at about 8.30am.

Based on a description of a person provided by a witness, police combed the surrounding area and detained a 17-year-old female suspect several blocks away.

A marker pen, an ATM card, and a lighter were among the evidence found in her possession.

Further investigations allowed the Police to establish the identities of her accomplices and in a joint operation with the Criminal Investigation Department that very day, several locations in Marsiling Lane, Whampoa Drive and Jurong West were raided.

A 16-year-old male suspect and two other female suspects aged 20 and 24 years old were nabbed.

The group was believed to be responsible for multiple loanshark harassment cases around Singapore including some incidents in which items were lit on fire outside flat units in Hougang, Woodlands and West Coast area.

All suspects will be charged in court on Wednesday for loanshark harassment.

A first time offender may be fined a minimum $4,000 and a maximum $40,000 or jailed up to three years or both.

They may also be caned if they had caused damage to property or harmed others while committing such acts.