Housebreaking cases see decline in 2012

SINGAPORE: A total of 428 housebreaking cases were reported in the first nine months of 2012 —— a 15 per cent decrease as compared to the same period last year.

Among the 189 persons arrested for the cases, 34 or 18 per cent were not Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs).

Of the 34 persons arrested in 2012, 17 were on social visit passes, 16 were work permit holders, and one was an illegal immigrant.

Percentage of non—Singaporeans or PRs arrested was 19 per cent lower than the January to September 2011 period.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli emphasised that the police solved 91.6 per cent of cases reported.

MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim asked if there is a concern over foreigners choosing Singapore as a "housebreaking destination".

Mr Masagos said: "We do not see yet a surge in the number of foreign syndicates coming to Singapore.

"They know clearly that we are very strong in our solving of cases, as I mentioned to the member —— 91.6 per cent of these were solved and we have deterrence sentences against them.

"I hope these are strong enough messages to any foreign elements who think that they can easily break into our houses and not get detected."

— CNA/lp