Their modus operandi was to prowl private estates in the middle of the night – both alone and in groups – to try to find cars that were unlocked. When one was found, they would steal the valuables inside.
The boys were spotted when a driver called the police after seeing private school student Lawrence Phyi-Sit Nyein, 18, and another student, Ryan Lim Shan Yu, 17, trying to open the doors of his car at Highgate Crescent at about 2am on 27 January, reported The New Paper.
When they found that his car was locked, the students moved on to enter another vehicle. He then called the police and attempted to approach them. However, upon seeing him, the youths fled.
The duo were spotted by police in the vicinity a while later, after getting a description of them from the driver. They then admitted to the thefts.
Six stolen cash cards were found on them.
Their three accomplices – students Joseph Boon Shun Heng, 17, Tan Zhijing, 19, and Jerome Lim Yong Chang, 18 – were later arrested.
The five teens targeted unlocked vehicles in private estates in the western part of Singapore, such as Sunset Way, Eng Kong Gardens and Faber Avenue.
They would take cash cards and other valuables like mobile phones and car navigation systems without damaging the vehicles.
Ryan Lim was sentenced to 18 months’ probation while Tan and Boon were sentenced to 21 months’ probation each.
The court was told Wednesday last week that Phyi-Sit and Jerome Lim had stolen while on bail for taking a Mercedes-Benz on a joyride on New Year’s Day. Jerome Lim drove the car without a valid driver’s license.
The owner lost S$280 worth of valuables, including a cash card with a stored value of about S$40.
All in all, Lim stole S$6,522 worth of valuables between 8 December and 14 January. This includes S$5,861 of refunds from 123 cash cards.
He pleaded guilty to four charges of theft and one charge of misappropriating stolen property. Nine other charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing, wrote the same paper.
Phyi-Sit stole S$4,595 worth of valuables and pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft and two charges of cheating. Twenty-two other charges will be taken into consideration.
Both teens are now in remand and will be sentenced on 10 November.