A desperate man was caught on CCTV smashing the front windscreens of four vehicles in Geylang early Saturday morning (May 21) in a bid to steal cash cards. Armed with a wooden stick, the thief managed to break into the cars but suffered cuts on his hand in the process, according to eyewitnesses.
The incident occurred around 2:20am along Geylang Road. A nearby worker, Qiu, reported that the vehicles belonged to a shop owner in the area, who discovered the theft later that morning. Upon realizing that the cash cards had been stolen, the owner promptly contacted the police.
The CCTV footage shows the thief, a bald-headed man wearing a mask and carrying a backpack, stretching into the vehicles to retrieve the cash cards after smashing the windscreens. The man discarded the wooden stick, approximately 60cm long, onto a nearby grass patch before fleeing the scene.
Qiu mentioned that the thief appeared to be older, but the police are hopeful that the CCTV footage will help identify the culprit soon. He also expressed concern for the vehicle owner, who not only faced a loss of cash cards but would also incur expenses to repair the damage to the windscreens.
The police confirmed that they were alerted to the theft at 8:18am on May 21, and investigations are ongoing. This marks the first reported case of such a theft in the area, though it follows a similar incident in 2019, after which the police advised the public to be vigilant and secure their belongings when parking.