Channel NewsAsia - Friday, December 28
Taxi driver helps police nab suspect involved in snatch theft
SINGAPORE: A taxi driver’s quick action helped police nab a 22—year—old suspect in a snatch theft case.
The suspect tried to escape but police managed to track his getaway vehicle along the Central Expressway (CTE). And that was only possible because the cab driver had provided the police with the vehicleÂ’s licence plate number.
The suspect was eventually caught at Blk 5070, Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2.
A total of S$3,000 was recovered after police arrested the suspected snatch thief, but his accomplices had made away with another S$14,000 in various currencies.
All the cash had been in a bag belonging to a 20—year—old woman.
She was walking in Wheelock Place on Orchard Road Wednesday morning, on her way to the bank, when a man came from behind and snatched her bag.
He and two other accomplices then ran towards Orchard Boulevard where the trio split up.
Taxi driver Choo Lye Seng saw two of them getting into a getaway vehicle, driven by another accomplice.
"I saw two men running towards me. Instinctively I knew something was wrong. I then saw a girl running after them, shouting ’Robbery!’ The girl looked helpless and I didn’t know what to do, except to call the police," said the 53—year—old taxi driver.
Mr Choo managed to provide the police with the vehicleÂ’s licence plate number, and with that information, police were able to track the suspect in one and a half hours.
Commander of Tanglin police division Paul Lim said, "Police does not work alone. We cannot be on the street every moment, so we depend very much on members of public to provide us with valuable and critical information that can help us to solve crimes and apprehend criminals."
Police are now looking for the other three suspects. — CNA/ac