SINGAPORE - Police arrested a 33-year-old man on Wednesday (Aug 16), a day after receiving a report of loanshark harassment at Marine Terrace.

The main door of a home in Marine Terrace was found burnt, with loanshark-related graffiti on the adjacent wall. Using police surveillance cameras and enquiries on the ground, officers tracked down the suspect and arrested him at Lorong 35 Geylang.

In his possession were three tins of paint, a spray can, a tin of lighter fluid, two black bicycle locks, three markers, and a pair of gloves.

Police believe that the man is involved in several cases of loanshark harassment in Tampines and Pasir Ris.

He is suspected of splashing paint on debtors' homes, chaining their gates with bicycle locks, and scrawling graffiti on walls.

The man will be charged in court on Thursday (Aug 18). First-time offenders convicted of loanshark harassment face a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, a mandatory jail term of up to five years, and a mandatory caning of up to six strokes.

The police said in a statement that it has "zero tolerance for such lawless acts of loanshark harassment involving fire which threaten the community's sense of safety".