A renovation sales representative was sentenced to 13 years' jail and eight strokes of the cane on Tuesday for housebreaking and theft. William Fong, 42, a repeat offender, admitted to seven charges of burglary and three of theft.

In all he committed 24 offences involving a total of $68,803 between July and October last year. The court heard that Fong was out on bail for the first nine charges when he committed 15 more offences.

He targeted mostly restaurants and eateries at Marina Gardens, Nex shopping centre at Serangoon and offices at Kaki Bukit Place. Fong used a hammer, an electric cutter, a crowbar and a heavy duty screw driver to break into these eateries.

Fong who had a similar conviction in 2005 was arrested on Oct 12 last year. Cash of $7,687 was recovered from his bank account. Fourteen other charges were taken into consideration during his sentencing. He could have been jailed for up to 14 years and caned on each charge of housebreaking and theft by night.