Docile & law-abiding Singaporeans are seeing more news on unheard behaviour of foreigners. TCH really got his work cut out for him.
Two arrested for bid to rob Burger King
One of the accused also believed to have struck earlier at another outlet
By Kimberly Spykerman
The Burger King outlet at International Plaza in Anson Road. Two Filipino men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in Wednesday's armed robbery attempt, which was thwarted after a crew member ran out to seek help from other shopkeepers. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
FAST money, not fast food, was on the minds of assailants in two armed robbery attempts at Burger King outlets on Wednesday and in April.
Yesterday, police said two Filipino men had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the incidents.
The duo, acquainted with each other and working here on S-Passes, struck at a branch at International Plaza in Anson Road on Wednesday.
One of them is also believed to have been involved in another attempt in April at new underground shopping mall Esplanade Xchange.
Both incidents occurred when there were few people around - one outlet was closed for the night and the other had not yet opened for business.
Calling the attempts 'bold and audacious', Deputy Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Adrian Quek said armed robberies at fast-food restaurants here are almost unheard of.
Most cases the police have dealt with are linked to convenience stores or money changers.
In the most recent case, early on Wednesday morning, one of the suspects, a 32-year-old, allegedly walked into the Burger King outlet at International Plaza and held a knife to a crew member's throat.
His face covered with a surgical mask and an eye mask, he demanded that the outlet manager hand over all the money in a safe.
The other man, a 30-year-old believed to be his accomplice, waited outside the building.
The attempt was thwarted after a third crew member ran out to seek help from other shopkeepers. The assailant threw his knife to the ground and fled.
He left a trail of clues behind, including a bicycle chain, which he intended to use to lock the doors of the outlet after committing the crime, and two rolls of duct tape.
His identity was traced through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. He was arrested at Changi Airport later that night when he was heading to the Philippines.
He will be charged with attempting to commit armed robbery, punishable by seven years' jail and no less than 18strokes of the cane.
His friend was arrested yesterday around the Marina Bay area.
Police believe that the older man is likely to have been involved in another armed-robbery attempt at the Burger King outlet in Esplanade Xchange.
In the incident in April, which took place at around 1am, he posed as a maintenance worker to gain access to the store. The only person working then was a 35-year-old assistant manager. He held a knife to her throat and demanded that she empty the safe. After he pocketed $7,000, he gagged her and bound her wrists and ankles with duct tape. She called for help after she managed to free herself.
DAC Quek said she had not double-checked the man's identity as it was common for contract workers to show up late at night to do maintenance work in the building.
The police are still investigating whether there were others involved in that attempt.
A spokesman for convenience store chain 7-Eleven, whose staff have been in the news as victims of armed robbery, said all stores have CCTV cameras, alarms linked to Cisco and checks by the latter's roving patrols.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Tham Yuen-C
Gang of 7 believed to be behind spate of attacks in Kallang; 5 arrested
By Leong Wee Keat, Lynda Hong | Posted: 01 June 2010 1151 hrs
SINGAPORE: A gang of seven was believed to have been responsible for the recent spate of attacks in the Kallang area on Sunday, which left one man dead and three others seriously injured.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested five of the suspects. Three were arrested on Monday and another two were arrested at about 9.50pm on Tuesday.
The police said the latest two arrests were made at Woodlands checkpoint when the suspects entered Singapore. One of the two is believed to be involved in the murder case at Kallang.
All the attacks occurred on Sunday.
On Monday evening, three Malaysians were nabbed. The trio from Sarawak, who are between 21 and 26 years old, work here as general workers.
They were caught near their dormitory in Syed Alwi Road after a 24-hour island-wide operation that involved 100 police officers.
The CID, which described the crimes as "vicious and violent", believed seven people had a hand in the attacks.
ASP Daniel Wong, Special Investigation Section, CID, said: "There were four random victims who were unknown to each other and we understand that this was committed by a group of suspects completely unknown to the victims. So it was harder to draw the connection, link them and establish their identities."
The attackers first struck on Sunday at 12:15am - a 24-year-old man was attacked at a playground near Block 44 Sims Drive. About half an hour later, near Kallang MRT station, a 44-year-old man was slashed from behind.
Another was found injured along the PIE near Sims Way exit at 7am. Half an hour later, a fourth victim was fatally attacked near a condominium at Sims Way.
Even though two suspects are still at large, some residents and workers in the area trust that security is still in place.
"We are familiar with the ground, we are not afraid of it. But if there are strangers around, then we have to take care," a resident said.
"I've been working here for about three years plus. Should be no problem," said a worker.
The three who have been arrested will be charged in court on Wednesday with murder and armed robbery with hurt.
- CNA/vm/al
Two arrested for bid to rob Burger King
One of the accused also believed to have struck earlier at another outlet
By Kimberly Spykerman
The Burger King outlet at International Plaza in Anson Road. Two Filipino men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in Wednesday's armed robbery attempt, which was thwarted after a crew member ran out to seek help from other shopkeepers. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
FAST money, not fast food, was on the minds of assailants in two armed robbery attempts at Burger King outlets on Wednesday and in April.
Yesterday, police said two Filipino men had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the incidents.
The duo, acquainted with each other and working here on S-Passes, struck at a branch at International Plaza in Anson Road on Wednesday.
One of them is also believed to have been involved in another attempt in April at new underground shopping mall Esplanade Xchange.
Both incidents occurred when there were few people around - one outlet was closed for the night and the other had not yet opened for business.
Calling the attempts 'bold and audacious', Deputy Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Adrian Quek said armed robberies at fast-food restaurants here are almost unheard of.
Most cases the police have dealt with are linked to convenience stores or money changers.
In the most recent case, early on Wednesday morning, one of the suspects, a 32-year-old, allegedly walked into the Burger King outlet at International Plaza and held a knife to a crew member's throat.
His face covered with a surgical mask and an eye mask, he demanded that the outlet manager hand over all the money in a safe.
The other man, a 30-year-old believed to be his accomplice, waited outside the building.
The attempt was thwarted after a third crew member ran out to seek help from other shopkeepers. The assailant threw his knife to the ground and fled.
He left a trail of clues behind, including a bicycle chain, which he intended to use to lock the doors of the outlet after committing the crime, and two rolls of duct tape.
His identity was traced through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. He was arrested at Changi Airport later that night when he was heading to the Philippines.
He will be charged with attempting to commit armed robbery, punishable by seven years' jail and no less than 18strokes of the cane.
His friend was arrested yesterday around the Marina Bay area.
Police believe that the older man is likely to have been involved in another armed-robbery attempt at the Burger King outlet in Esplanade Xchange.
In the incident in April, which took place at around 1am, he posed as a maintenance worker to gain access to the store. The only person working then was a 35-year-old assistant manager. He held a knife to her throat and demanded that she empty the safe. After he pocketed $7,000, he gagged her and bound her wrists and ankles with duct tape. She called for help after she managed to free herself.
DAC Quek said she had not double-checked the man's identity as it was common for contract workers to show up late at night to do maintenance work in the building.
The police are still investigating whether there were others involved in that attempt.
A spokesman for convenience store chain 7-Eleven, whose staff have been in the news as victims of armed robbery, said all stores have CCTV cameras, alarms linked to Cisco and checks by the latter's roving patrols.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Tham Yuen-C
Gang of 7 believed to be behind spate of attacks in Kallang; 5 arrested
By Leong Wee Keat, Lynda Hong | Posted: 01 June 2010 1151 hrs
SINGAPORE: A gang of seven was believed to have been responsible for the recent spate of attacks in the Kallang area on Sunday, which left one man dead and three others seriously injured.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested five of the suspects. Three were arrested on Monday and another two were arrested at about 9.50pm on Tuesday.
The police said the latest two arrests were made at Woodlands checkpoint when the suspects entered Singapore. One of the two is believed to be involved in the murder case at Kallang.
All the attacks occurred on Sunday.
On Monday evening, three Malaysians were nabbed. The trio from Sarawak, who are between 21 and 26 years old, work here as general workers.
They were caught near their dormitory in Syed Alwi Road after a 24-hour island-wide operation that involved 100 police officers.
The CID, which described the crimes as "vicious and violent", believed seven people had a hand in the attacks.
ASP Daniel Wong, Special Investigation Section, CID, said: "There were four random victims who were unknown to each other and we understand that this was committed by a group of suspects completely unknown to the victims. So it was harder to draw the connection, link them and establish their identities."
The attackers first struck on Sunday at 12:15am - a 24-year-old man was attacked at a playground near Block 44 Sims Drive. About half an hour later, near Kallang MRT station, a 44-year-old man was slashed from behind.
Another was found injured along the PIE near Sims Way exit at 7am. Half an hour later, a fourth victim was fatally attacked near a condominium at Sims Way.
Even though two suspects are still at large, some residents and workers in the area trust that security is still in place.
"We are familiar with the ground, we are not afraid of it. But if there are strangers around, then we have to take care," a resident said.
"I've been working here for about three years plus. Should be no problem," said a worker.
The three who have been arrested will be charged in court on Wednesday with murder and armed robbery with hurt.
- CNA/vm/al
