SINGAPORE - A 51-year-old man has been arrested for stealing from vehicles in a series of cases this month.

Victims made police reports between Sept 9 and 28 saying their handphones and cashcards were stolen from their vehicles.

At least five reports were made.

The owners had parked their vehicles in Toa Payoh, the police said in a statement on Friday.

After conducting investigations, Tanglin Police Division officers identified the suspect and arrested him at Toa Payoh Central on Thursday (Sept 28).

Investigations are ongoing.

If convicted of the offence of theft, he can be jailed for up to three years and/or fined.

Just last month, a 42-year-old man was arrested for stealing cash, parking coupons and other items from vehicles.

He had allegedly smashed a window of a car in Toa Payoh.

Earlier this month, four teenagers were arrested for stealing items including a cash card from a motorcycle in Yishun.

The police gave the following precautionary measures for vehicle owners:

- Install an anti-theft alarm system;

- Do not leave cash and valuables such as cashcards, laptops, handphones, briefcases or wallets in your vehicle; and

- Lock all vehicle doors and wind up all windows when a vehicle is parked, even if for a short while.