This is Toa Payoh, you dare come here to steal?
She saw someone steal two boxed bottles of perfume.
As if that wasn't dramatic enough, what happened next shocked her.
Another man chased after the suspect, caught up with him and dished out rough justice to him.
The burly man punched and kicked the older man, said Ms Angela Teo, 54.
By the time the "hero" was done, the suspect was bleeding from injuries to his face and had to be taken to hospital by the police.
Ms Teo said she ended up feeling sorry for the suspect.
She said the incident started as she was walking around in Toa Payoh Central on Saturday at about 1pm, when the suspect dashed past her.
This man, who appeared to be in his 50s, had stolen two bottles of perfume from Beaute Spring, a shop that sells skincare products.
He was wearing a white shirt, black pants and carried a bag with him. Hearing screams for help, three men and two women gave chase, Ms Teo recounted.
They soon caught up with the suspect and pinned him to the ground between Blocks 179 and 183.
But Ms Teo claimed that was when the burly man went from hero to zero by beating up the suspect.
She said: "He kept shouting, 'This is Toa Payoh, you dare to come here to steal? I'll kill you.'
"The suspect was punched and kicked until blood streamed from his forehead.
"The man only stopped when another onlooker said the police were on their way and advised him to let the police handle the matter."
'Nobody helped'
Ms Teo said a crowd of more than 50 people had gathered at the incident site, but nobody stepped forward to protect the suspect.
She recounted: "Among them, I could hear many making remarks such as 'Why beat him up so badly, just refer to the police' and 'See, blood is oozing out already.'"
She added: "It was such a pathetic sight because the helpless suspect was pinned to the ground. The man kept punching him and he was wearing a very big ring on his finger."
"I took out tissues from my bag, but I was such a coward that I dare not offer him because of the burly man."
Ms Teo said she felt sorry for the suspect, adding: "What business is that of the man to punch and kick the suspect?
"He should let the law take its course and not go overboard."
Two policemen soon arrived and handcuffed the suspect, said Ms Teo.
A police spokesman confirmed the incident, saying that the suspect was detained by passers-by and sustained injuries.
He was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and was arrested for alleged shop theft.
Police investigations are ongoing.
The New Paper understands that the suspect sustained head and leg injuries.
Ms Teo said that since the incident, she has called the police three times, saying she is willing to be a witness to the incident.
She maintained: "Even the police, during their interrogations, do not resort to this (form of justice), why and how can he (the burly man)?
"This incident happened at 1pm, in broad daylight, at a crowded place. I can't imagine what would have happened to the older man if this incident had taken place at 10pm when most shops are closed."
Criminal lawyer Luke Lee told TNP: "Private citizens can make arrests of seizable offences, of which shop theft is one example.
"In these cases, reasonable force can be used to effect arrest, especially if there is resistance. If no more than reasonable force was used, the arrest is proper.
Mr Lee added: "Even if excessive force was used, the act can only be classified as voluntarily causing hurt, which is not a seizable offence.
"Police will normally proceed only if directed by amagistrate."
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Originally Posted by hokkien
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