SINGAPORE: Armed with a fruit knife, a teenager robbed a 7-Eleven store in Sengkang of six packets of cigarettes and a burger.
According to his lawyer, he did so as he felt a sudden urge to mimic scenes he saw in movies involving robberies.
He also knew that there would be only one employee working there that night, and was hungry and did not have money to buy food.
Jacob Seow, 18, pleaded guilty on Friday (Feb 21) to one charge of robbery, which had been reduced from armed robbery.
The court heard that Seow decided to rob the outlet at Block 403A, Fernvale Lane, on Aug 3 last year.
He took a fruit knife from his kitchen, stored it in his pocket, and left home at 12.30am on Aug 4.
He went into the shop, which was manned by a 21-year-old store assistant, and placed a chocolate bar on the cashier counter to draw the victim there.
POINTED KNIFE AT VICTIM, DEMANDING CASH AND CIGARETTES
He then pointed his fruit knife at the victim, before placing a backpack on the counter and demanding that the victim place money and cigarettes inside.
The victim told him he could put only cigarettes inside, as he could not open the cash register, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh.
Seow then took six packets of cigarettes costing between S$12.60 and S$14.30 and placed them in his bag.
He allowed the victim to keep his mobile phone, before taking a $2.90 Cheesy Chicken burger from the fridge.
He then placed his hands on the victim's neck and strangled him, intending to make him faint and delay him from calling the police.
However, he stopped his actions as he feared passers-by would come into the store, and thanked the victim for allowing him to steal before leaving.
Seow then went to a basketball court near his home and changed into another set of clothing he had kept in his backpack.
He ate the stolen burger and smoked one of the cigarettes. He wanted to rob another 7-Eleven outlet nearby, as he did not manage to get any cash earlier, but changed his mind when near the store as he did not have a fresh set of clothes to change into after.
The prosecutor said he did not object to the calling of both probation and reformative training suitability reports, given the seriousness of the offence.
However, he reserved his position on sentence until the reports came in.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...even-store-with-knife-says-he-wanted-12456894
