Seven luxury cars splashed with paint remover at car workshop in Redhill

The paintwork of the cars has corroded because of the attack at the workshop in Redhill. The vehicles were not broken into and nothing was stolen from the workshop. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
The paintwork of the cars has corroded because of the attack at the workshop in Redhill. The vehicles were not broken into and nothing was stolen from the workshop. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Seven luxury cars were found splashed with paint remover yesterday at a car workshop in the Redhill area, causing an estimated $80,000 in damage.

The cars - a Ferrari, a Volvo, two Audis and three Mercs - had been parked at Optima Werkz, a workshop in Kung Chong Road.

When The Sunday Times visited the workshop yesterday afternoon, police officers were seen collecting evidence from the cars, whose paintwork had corroded.

The vehicles had not been broken into, and nothing was stolen from the workshop, said manager Samuel Sia, 37, who discovered the damaged vehicles when he arrived at work around 7.45am yesterday.

He called the police immediately and inspected the area before ringing up the affected customers to break the bad news.

"Of course, they were angry, but not at us. They understand that this is an unfortunate incident... We will make sure the cars are restored to brand-new condition," he said. The costs are likely to be covered by insurance.

Footage from the 50 surveillance cameras installed in the workshop has been handed over to the police, added Mr Sia, who did not elaborate on what it revealed. Police are investigating the case of criminal trespass and mischief.

This is the second time such an incident has happened at the 15,000 sq ft workshop, which specialises in repair and maintenance services for luxury cars and supercars.

In June, paint was flung in from outside the compound, but it fell on the ground and none of the cars was affected. No one was arrested.

Mr Sia said that the workshop, which has two other branches in Serangoon North and Upper Thomson, will beef up its security, and may hire a full-time guard to patrol the area.

The 29-year-old owner of one damaged vehiclesaid that more preventive measures would boost customers' confidence.

The man, who declined to be named, has been using the workshop for two years, and has three other cars serviced there.

"Obviously, I'm not happy with what has happened but the workshop has been honest and the way they handled the situation was very professional," he said.

"They are willing to take full responsibility. I believe they are doing what they can," he added.

limyihan@sph.com.sg

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