SINGAPORE - A 42-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday (Jan 20) for her suspected involvement in a car theft at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Orchard Road.
The police said in a statement on Saturday night that a 63-year-old woman, understood to be an oncologist at the hospital, had reported her car stolen on Friday at around 4pm.
Officers from the Tanglin Police Division were able to recover the car within 30 minutes, the statement said.
The Straits Times understands that the vehicle - a BMW - was found abandoned in Scotts Road, near Newton MRT station.
The suspect, a patient at the hospital, was arrested the next day at around 11am in Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong in East Coast Road.
Officers were able to establish her identity with the help of closed-circuit television footage, the statement said.
It is understood that the doctor drove to the hospital's Basement 2 carpark at about 2pm on Friday.
When she could not find parking, she stopped her car at the side, placed her car key in the vehicle and left.
Typically, a valet service staff member would move the car away once a parking space becomes available.
The victim discovered her car was stolen only after she returned to the carpark at around 3.45pm.
The valet service staff then told her that a woman had driven off with her car.
The Straits Times understands that the suspect is not a patient of the doctor.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Those convicted of motor vehicle theft may face a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.
In the statement, the police reminded the public to take the following crime prevention measures:
- Park in well-lit areas;
- Install an anti-theft alarm system;
- Lock all vehicle doors and wind up all windows when vehicle is parked, even if it is for a short while;
- Look around the vicinity for suspicious characters before leaving. If you see anyone suspicious, take note of their appearance, attire, height, or any other distinctive physical features and call the police for assistance. Do not confront them.
