Police have arrested a group of four men and a woman suspected of a theft at a shopping mall along Upper Cross Street.

On Thursday, a woman was on an escalator at the mall, when the members of the group allegedly dropped something in front of her and bumped into her in order to steal an envelope containing $2,000 from her handbag.

Officers from the Central Police Division and Tanglin Police Division investigated and arrested the five suspects along Syed Alwi Road on Saturday, recovering $1,507.90 in cash.

The suspects, aged between 38 and 60, are believed to be involved in other similar thefts, police said.

The police also advised members of the public to keep an eye on their valuables and not be distracted by others who may cause a commotion, bump into or spill something on them.