7 People Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Grocery Vouchers in Letterboxes All Over S’pore

Yesterday, we reported that one 37-year-old lady was arrested for stealing from the less well-to-do.

Well, as it turns out, she’s not the only one doing it because today, we’re now writing about six others who were arrested for possibly doing the same thing.

7 People Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Grocery Vouchers in Letterboxes All Over S’pore

On 15 Oct 2020, one day after the 37-year-old lady was arrested, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced that they’ve arrested six more individuals for allegedly doing the same thing.

Two of them are women while four are men and their alleged crimes took place on separate occasions at different locations.

The Cases

Tampines

A 23-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested on Wednesday (14 Oct) by officers from the Bedok division for their suspected involvement in Budget 2020 grocery vouchers theft at Tampines Street 86.

According to the SPF, the man was a repeat offender and had stolen vouchers at the same location on a separate occasion.

He will be given an additional charge for theft.

Marsiling

Another pair, a 41-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were arrested on the same day (14 Oct) by officers from the Woodlands division.

They were suspected of stealing the grocery vouchers at an HDB block along Marsiling Road.

Telok Blangah

A 54-year-old man was arrested by officers from Clementi Division for stealing vouchers from letterboxes at an HDB block along Telok Blangah Rise on Wednesday (14 Oct).

Holland Close

Another 54-year-old man was arrested on Thursday (16 Oct) for allegedly stealing from letterboxes at an HDB block on Holland Close

With these, the SPF has arrested seven individuals, including the 37-year-old woman at Toa Payoh, for allegedly stealing Budget 2020 grocery vouchers from letterboxes.

Investigations are ongoing and preliminary investigations reveal that these individuals were not working together.

For their offence, they could be jailed for up to 3 years, fined, or both, if convicted.

You Can Actually Void Your Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers If They’re Stolen

The GST Grocery Vouchers are for Singaporeans aged 21 and above living in 1- or 2-room HDB flats with no more than 1 property under their name.

Eligible citizens are supposed to receive the vouchers in Oct and Dec 2020.

The SPF has some tips for households which will receive the vouchers:

  • For one, it might be prudent to collect the vouchers as soon as possible. If they’re not there, they can’t be stolen, right?
  • Also, make sure to secure your letterbox tightly.
  • Should you suspect that your vouchers could have been stolen, lodge a police report immediately.
  • You should also call the Grocery Voucher hotline (1800-2222-888) to void or replace your vouchers.
  • Voiding these vouchers will ensure that the person who stole the vouchers can’t use them, and could possibly be identified and invited in when he or she attempts to use them.
  • And finally, if you see any suspicious people loitering around the letterbox area, call the police down immediately.

The SPF revealed that they’ve received similar reports in other residential areas as well and will be investigating them.

Should members of the public spot anyone loitering suspiciously around the letterbox areas, they should inform the police immediately.