SINGAPORE: Four members of a foreign crime syndicate have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than 800 items from multiple shops across the island, the police said on Monday (Sep 17).

The total haul - which came up to 868 items - include 529 brassieres from Uniqlo as well as apparel from ZARA, the police said at a press conference. The stolen items are worth about S$26,000.



The two men and two women, aged between 26 and 31, were arrested on Sunday at a hotel along Chin Swee Road, the police said. It is believed that the four suspects are Vietnamese.

They are said to have used paper bags lined with tin foil to steal the items, in order to avoid setting off anti-theft sensors.



The arrest was made one day after the manager of a retail outlet along Pasir Ris Close reported to the police on Saturday that some items had been stolen from the shop.



The four will be charged in court on Tuesday with theft in dwelling with common intention. If convicted, they can be jailed up to seven years, and may also be fined.

The suspects used paper bags lined with aluminium foil to help them fool anti-theft sensors. (Photo: Fann Sim)

The police have described this case as one of the largest shop thefts in terms of volume and value that they have seen in recent years.

"This case illustrates the close partnership that the police have with retailers in Singapore. The police will not tolerate foreign crime syndicates looking to operate here. Those found doing so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Assistant Commissioner Tan Tin Wee, commander of Bedok Police Division.