The Police have arrested five persons, aged between 15 and 19, for their suspected involvement in relation to a case of theft of motor vehicle.
Background of incident
On 30 October 2021 at about 8.30pm, the Police received a report that a motor car was stolen along Jalan Kayu. The victim, a 22-year-old man who was providing carpooling services, had picked up two men at Compass One Shopping Centre, who wanted to travel to a HDB block at Jalan Kayu. When the victim reached the destination at about 7.30pm, he acceded to his passengers’ request to purchase cigarettes at a nearby shop, leaving his car engine running. He then saw his passengers driving off in his car.
An operation involving Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) and Police Intelligence Department (PID), was immediately mounted to trace both the men and the stolen car. Subsequently, the identity of the 19-year-old man (“first driver”) allegedly involved in theft of the vehicle, was established.
On 31 October 2021 at about 2.15am, plainclothes officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division spotted the first driver along with an unknown female passenger in the stolen car in the vicinity of Yishun Street 21. When engaged by the officers in the open carpark, the first driver allegedly collided into the officers’ unmarked Police car and sped off. While getting away, he purportedly knocked into a parked van. In the ensuing pursuit, officers lost sight of the car along Yishun Avenue 7. Further investigations revealed that the vehicle registration plate of the stolen car had allegedly been changed to that of a plate stolen from another vehicle in Marine Parade. Both plainclothes officers from the unmarked Police car were not injured, but the car was damaged arising from the collision.
With the assistance of Police Cameras (PolCams), the first driver was spotted in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division subsequently arrested him and his 15-year-old female passenger on 31 October 2021 at about 8am. A stun device was also recovered from the first driver. It was eventually established that the first driver had allegedly passed the stolen car to another 19-year-old male accomplice (“second driver”), whom he had purportedly stolen the car with.
On 31 October 2021 at about 9.00am, plainclothes officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division spotted the second driver along with another unknown male passenger in the stolen car at a carpark along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6. When officers instructed the second driver to step out of the car with his male passenger, he ignored officer’s instructions and purportedly sped off instead, causing three officers to fall and sustain slight injuries. Another unmarked Police car with three other plainclothes officers then pursued the car.
A vehicular pursuit ensued, and the car was eventually intercepted along Lentor Plains. During his attempts to evade capture, the second driver allegedly collided into the side of the pursuing unmarked Police car and two other private cars parked along the road. Two out of three plainclothes officers in the unmarked Police car suffered slight injuries. The second driver and his 18-year-old male passenger were swiftly arrested. A flick knife was also recovered from the car.
Through follow-up investigations, a 16-year-old female, who is believed to have purportedly assisted the two 19-year-old men to attempt to dispose of the stolen car, was later arrested along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9 on 31 October 2021 at about 1.50pm.
Offences
The two 19-year-old men, the first driver and second driver, will be charged in Court on 1 November 2021 with the offence of theft of motor vehicle with common intention, punishable under Section 379A read with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, they will be liable to an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine. One of the suspects will be facing an additional charge of theft of a set of vehicle licence plate under Section 379 of the Penal Code. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
In addition, the duo will be investigated for multiple offences, including:
Voluntary causing hurt to deter public servant in the discharge of his duty under Section 332 of the Penal Code;
Rash act which endangers the life or personal safety of others under Section 336 (a) of the Penal Code;
Dangerous driving Section 64(1) of the Road Traffic Act;
Driving without a valid licence under Section 35(1) of the Road Traffic Act;
Failing to stop after an accident under Section 84(1) of the Road Traffic Act; and
Using a vehicle without insurance under Section 3(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks and Compensation) Act.
The other three persons arrested are being investigated for their roles in disposing of the stolen car, under Section 414 of the Penal Code. Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property, that is a motor vehicle or any component part of a motor vehicle, which the person knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property or property obtained in while or in part through any criminal offence involving fraud and dishonesty, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and a fine, and may be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period as ordered by the court.
In total, two unmarked Police cars, three vehicles belonging to members of the public and one purported stolen car, were damaged in the process. Five Police officers suffered slight injuries.
Firm action will be taken against those who endanger public safety
Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Zed Teo said: “The Police will not tolerate such brazen acts. We will spare no effort to apprehend those who blatantly disregard the law and endanger the safety of others. Police officers face risks in their daily work. Despite this, our officers remain steadfast in their duties to keep Singapore safe and secure.”
The Police take a serious view of those who blatantly flout the law and endanger the lives of our officers in their attempts to evade capture. We will act swiftly to arrest and prosecute these offenders in accordance with the law.
Source: Singapore Police Force