Police Nab Alleged Boon Lay Pawnshop Robber After 100 Hour Manhunt

Pawnshop Robber Arrested After 100 Hour Manhunt

It took nearly 100 hours, but the Singapore Police Force have done it again. On Wednesday (1 Aug) night, they nabbed a Bangladeshi suspect in connection to an attempted robbery at a Boon Lay pawnshop on Saturday afternoon.

Police apprehended the man at Muscat Street, in the Kampong Glam area.

Media reports say that the 29-year-old suspect is a Bangladeshi construction worker who overstayed. He might face charges under Section 4(A) of the Arms Offences Act, which states that:

Anyone found guilty of using or attempting to use any arm at the time of his committing or attempting to commit any scheduled offence shall, whether or not he has any intention to cause physical injury to any person or property, be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with death.

This means that even if no injuries were caused to the pawnshop staff, the suspect faces the gravest penalty of the death sentence if convicted. He will be charged on Friday.

Armed robbery attempt

The shocking robbery took place at a pawnshop near Boon Lay MRT. The suspect allegedly threatened staff with a gun replica and a device that he claimed was an explosive.

Based on preliminary investigations & CCTV footage, this here’s how events played out:

• Suspect entered ValueMax pawnshop at Boon Lay MRT station
• Man threatened shop staff with a knife and a gun (believed to be a replica)
• Demanded for staff to handover cash and jewellery
• Staff refused his demands
• Man allegedly told staff he would “blow the pawnshop up” with an “explosive device”
• Man threw the device on the counter and fled without taking any items
• Staff threw object out of the pawnshop and called the police
• No staff were injured in the incident
• Parts of Boon Lay MRT were closed for police investigations

Featured image from Singapore Police Force.