Police working with retailers to prevent shoplifting during festive period
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Most cases of shop theft in the first half of 2024 occurred at major retailer outlets, said the police.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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SINGAPORE – In 2023, the staff of Yue Hwa Chinese Products noticed an elderly woman repeatedly entering its Chinatown store and loitering near cans of abalone, but never buying anything.
They monitored her movements as they suspected she might be a shoplifter.
After six visits without making a single purchase, the store’s security team noted her photo from CCTV camera footage to be able to recognise her should she return.
Chinese New Year falls on Jan 29, and the police said this period usually sees increased shopping activity.
Because of this and with shoplifting cases rising
The programme sees retailers working with police officers on how to improve their anti-shoplifting measures.
One such business is Yue Hwa, which sells traditional Chinese food and beverage items, medicine, household products and clothing. Besides the Chinatown outlet, it has two others in Jurong Point and Nex in Serangon Central.
Shop theft cases increased from 1,849 in the first half of 2023 same period in 2024
It was the most common physical crime in the first six months of 2024, with more than half of these cases involving stolen items worth less than $50.
Most cases occurred at major retail outlets, said the police. Items typically stolen included personal care, food and beverage products, and cosmetics.
Under the Star programme, Yue Hwa and other retailers installed CCTV cameras at strategic areas throughout their stores.
The police said CCTVs allow retailers to review footage and identify culprits, even those who leave the store with the items.
Yue Hwa Chinese Products marketing manager Andrew Goh (centre) with Senior Staff Sergeant Mohammad Salimie Ismail and Sergeant Jaime Ng at one of the retailer’s shops on Jan 13.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
When asked how staff prevented the elderly woman from attempting to shoplift, Mr Andrew Goh, Yue Hwa’s marketing manager, said staff kept close to her, and did not let her out of their sight.
This prevented her from taking anything without being noticed, and she left the store.
The woman returned five more times, but staff recognised her and watched her closely. She never returned after that.
Mr Goh also recalled a man lingering near jars of health supplements, each worth about $100.
After several jars went missing, CCTV footage revealed that he had stolen them. Yue Hwa lodged a police report.
Mr Goh said: “The Star programme has been beneficial, and my staff feel more confident after the training. Prevention and detection is particularly crucial during high-traffic periods like the Chinese New Year season.”
Yue Hwa also displays anti-theft posters around its stores and at their main entrance, and have their security team identify potential shoplifters.
Additionally, employees have received training from the police on the A.S.K protocol – ask, safety first and keep close – for handling potential shop theft situations.
When suspicious persons are spotted, staff should ask them politely if they need assistance.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
If they do not feel confident approaching such people alone, they should call for a colleague.
Finally, deter suspects from stealing by maintaining visibility and eye contact.
With its collaboration with the police, Yue Hwa has maintained a consistently low shop theft rate of five to six incidents annually.
On Jan 15 and 16, 14 people are set to be charged with shop theft.
One is an 18-year-old allegedly involved in at least 55 cases at two different outlets of a supermarket chain.
Another case involves a 22-year-old man who allegedly stole from a retail outlet in Orchard Road on two separate occasions in June 2024.
When he returned on July 3, staff recognised him and he was arrested there that day.
Superintendent Su Jie Hui, the commanding officer at the Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre, said the police want to send a clear message to potential offenders.
He said: “Even if you manage to leave the store with a stolen item, you will still be identified eventually and taken to task by police.”
The offence of theft in dwelling carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.
Ms Ng Kai Ling, associate director at LIMN Law Corporation, warned would-be shoplifters of the consequences of committing such crimes, such as facing difficulty in applying for certain jobs after serving time.
She said: “Employers looking to fill sensitive positions, such as handling payments, would likely be concerned if a prospective employee has a record of acting dishonestly. Ultimately, it is not worthwhile to commit shop theft.”
