Man Tried to Fish Out Mobile Phone from an HDB Flat With an Umbrella

They say that Singapore’s greatest resource is her human talent. Sadly, sometimes these talents use their smarts for the wrong things.

In a true display of innovation and creativity, a man used an everyday household item to conduct his heist.

What Happened

Using an umbrella, a 54-year-old man attempted to steal a mobile phone from the window on May 10.

Most Singaporeans do blog shopping, but this man decided to take things to another level and did (HDB) block shopping.

Fortunately, the owner was home and able to catch the man in the middle of his act. The owner confronted the perpetrator for his act. However, the man was able to run away.

What I find funny is how the man expected himself to succeed at fishing the phone with an umbrella, and how he didn’t know that the owner was home.

This case is currently undergoing investigation by the police. If convicted, the man could face up to three years in jail and fine.

Timely reminder 

Anyway, if anything, this incident is a timely reminder that we need to have safety measures in place.

Gone are the days where we lived in kampungs and could leave our doors unlocked because neighbours did not steal.

Close all windows 

When we leave the house, it is a given that we will lock our doors. However, sometimes people neglect the window because they do not expect anything to happen there.

It is important to close all windows before leaving the house. It prevents rain and unwanted visitors from getting into the house. If you’ve a pet at home, maybe just leave a small gap for air circulation.

Install a camera

If your walkway is not already under surveillance by a camera, you could consider investing in a camera to watch over your items. You can place is at a significant spot where anyone can see to act as a deterrent for thieves.

Do not put valuable things near the window 

Of course, it is not possible for us to close the windows all the time. Especially when we are home. With rising temperatures, sometimes we just have to open the window to allow some breeze to come in.

So another precautionary measure that you can take would be to not put your prized possessions near the window where people can reach in and make a stealthy exit with your item.

Financial Assistance

No matter how desperate you are, stealing is never the right thing to do. If you are struggling financially, seek help at the nearest Family Service Centre (FSC) near you!

A social worker will try his or her best to navigate the best way forward and see what kind of financial assistance you may be eligible for.