Five teenagers arrested for suspected housebreaking and theft

Case exhibits recovered from a trio of teenagers allegedly involved in at least four break-ins in Teck Whye, Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang. Five teenagers, aged 14 to 19, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in several different cases o
Case exhibits recovered from a trio of teenagers allegedly involved in at least four break-ins in Teck Whye, Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang. Five teenagers, aged 14 to 19, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in several different cases of housebreaking and theft. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Five teenagers, aged 14 to 19, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in several different cases of housebreaking and theft.

The first case happened at about 11am on March 8, when the owner of a retail shop at a shopping centre in Jurong West discovered that her unit had been broken into. About $200 was stolen from the cash register.

With the help of CCTV footage from the shop capturing the incident, officers from the Jurong Police Division identified one of the suspects, an 18-year-old male. At 1.25pm on March 10, the suspect and his 14-year-old female accomplice were arrested at Jurong West Central 1.

Meanwhile, there had been four police reports about a series of break-ins in the area of Teck Whye, Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang from Feb 13 to March 4. In two of these break-ins, cash was reportedly stolen from the canteen food stalls of two secondary schools in Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang. Two other break-ins involved provision shops in Teck Whye, where an assortment of cigarettes was stolen.

Jurong Police Division officers detained three suspects at about 4am on March 11 in the vicinity of Teck Whye Lane. Preliminary investigations show the trio had just broken into a school in Bukit Batok, and they are believed to be involved in at least four of the cases. Items related to the offence and monies believed to be stolen were recovered from the suspects.

If found guilty of housebreaking and theft, the suspects may be sentenced up to 14 years in prison and fined.

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