Police arrested three Latin American men for allegedly breaking into and stealing from three Bukit Timah bungalows.
A mother and son spotted their suspicious vehicle and recorded the license plate number, giving police important information to solve the case.
The suspects include a 60-year-old with Spanish-Colombian citizenship, a 51-year-old Mexican, and a 48-year-old with Mexican-Colombian citizenship. All entered Singapore on social visit passes within two weeks before their arrest.
The Singapore Police Force reported on Sunday, May 11, 2025, that they received reports of break-ins at bungalows on Cluny Park Road, Dunearn Road, and Eng Neo Avenue on May 9 and 10.
Officers from multiple units including Tanglin Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department, and Special Operations Command worked together and arrested the suspects within 27 hours of the first report.
Police discovered a car, circular saw, various jewelry, and cash totaling about SGD$18,350 at the suspects’ location.
The three men will face charges in court on Monday, May 12, 2025. If convicted, they could receive up to ten years in jail plus fines.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Cheong Chee Ming, Tanglin Police Division Commander, credited the mother and son who provided key information. They received appreciation certificates for their help.
The mother, Ms. Chen, told Lianhe Zaobao they moved to Bukit Timah six months ago. On Friday evening around 8:00 PM, she and her son noticed an unfamiliar car circling their neighborhood repeatedly.
“At first, I thought it was a delivery person or a lost driver, but the car went around three times, so I felt something was wrong,” she said.
They decided to note down the license plate number. Chen made eye contact with the driver, who appeared displeased, revved the engine, and drove away quickly.
The next morning, after hearing about a break-in, she contacted police with the vehicle information.
Chen mentioned that police distributed safety awareness flyers in the area following last year’s break-ins by Chinese suspects. This prompted her and her son to record the license plate.
Her 16-year-old son, Li Mingjie, stated the incident showed him crime can happen close to home and urged residents to stay vigilant.
Between June and August 2024, ten break-ins occurred at high-end homes in the Bukit Timah and Rail Corridor areas, with stolen items worth about $3.85 million. Investigations linked these to a Chinese criminal gang. Three Chinese citizens faced charges while 14 others fled Singapore.
In December 2024, two Chinese men stole items worth over $17,000 from homes at Greenleaf View and Zehnder Road.
Police noted that while break-ins have decreased overall, Singapore remains targeted by cross-border criminals.
They advise residents to lock doors and windows, install alarms, and join neighborhood watch programs when leaving home for extended periods.
