Police arrested seven suspects in connection with separate cases of shoplifting at NTUC Xtra at Jurong Point mall within a week earlier this month.

This after cases of shoplifting at the hypermart almost doubled to 102 last year from just 69 cases in the previous year, said the police said in a statement on Saturday.

The latest cases involved four men and three women aged between 19 and 43 years old, who were arrested between Mar 8 and 15.

Police said NTUC Xtra has put in preventive measures, including ceiling mirrors and surveillance cameras, as well as deploying more security personnel to deter shoplifters.

If convicted of shoplifting, the suspects may be jailed up to seven years and fined.