Toa Payoh armed robbery suspect caught

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 54—year—old man believed to have been involved in armed robbery cases in Toa Payoh.

On October 3, a 27—year—old woman reported to the police that she had been robbed by a man who had followed her into a lift in Toa Payoh Central in the late evening.

While on their way up, the man allegedly took out a penknife, robbed her of S$800 and fled when the lift door opened.

Two days later, a 23—year—old woman reported that a man followed her into a lift at Lorong 2 Toa Payoh in the late evening and threatened her with a penknife.

He allegedly asked her to hand over her valuables, but when the lift door opened, the woman pushed him aside and ran away before he could rob her.

The suspect was caught on October 8 during a police ambush in Toa Payoh Central.

Police searched the suspect and found a penknife, believed to have been used to commit the offences.

The suspect will be charged in court on Wednesday with armed robbery.

If convicted, he will face a jail term of up to 14 years and receive at least 12 strokes of the cane.

— CNA/lp