SINGAPORE - Two members of the public, Mr Abdul Qaliff Rahim and Mr Sakiman Ishak, helped detain a suspected snatch thief on Monday and were commended by the police for their good deed.
They helped arrest a 24-year-old male for his suspected involvement in a case of snatch theft reported in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1.
At about 11.30pm on Monday, the victim was engaged on his mobile phone when the suspect walked past, snatched his phone and fled. The victim gave chase and shouted for help.
The commotion attracted the attention of Mr Qaliff and Mr Sakiman, who chased and helped detain the suspect along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1. They handed him over to the police, and the stolen mobile phone was also recovered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was believed to be involved in other reported snatch theft cases.
The suspect will be charged in court on Wednesday for the offence of Snatch Theft under Section 356 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of seven years and caning.
Said Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Wilson Lim said in a news release on Tuesday: "This case showcases the importance of police-community partnership in fighting crime."
