Man steals luxury watches & cash from unlocked cars at Suntec City
A man who targeted unlocked vehicles in a shopping mall carpark made off with over S$26,000 in cash and luxury items, including high-end watches.
Mohamed Rasid Mohd Ali, 56, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and was sentenced to 26 months’ jail on Wednesday (27 Nov).
Audemars Piguet watch & cash taken from first car
According to The Straits Times (ST), Rasid committed his first theft on 13 May 2024.
While at the Suntec City basement one carpark, he noticed an unlocked Porsche and entered through the driver’s door.
Source: Suntec City Office Towers
He stole S$1,000 in cash from two wallets in the front centre compartment and an Audemars Piguet watch valued at S$30,000.
The car’s owner, a 40-year-old Singaporean, discovered the theft when he returned to his vehicle later that afternoon.
A police report was lodged three days after the incident.
Rolex watch & over S$25,000 in cash taken in subsequent thefts
On 29 Aug, three months after his first theft, Rasid struck again at the Suntec City carpark, stealing valuables from two unlocked vehicles.
In the early afternoon, he came across an unlocked Porsche and stole a Rolex watch worth S$14,000 from its cupholder.
Later that evening, he entered another unlocked car and stole S$19,328 in cash from a Cartier bag on the rear seat and S$6,000 from the front centre compartment.
The owner of the stolen cash reported the incident on the same day, while the Rolex’s owner, who initially believed the watch was misplaced at home, lodged a police report on 8 Sept.
Arrested on 19 Sept
Of the S$26,328 in cash stolen, Rasid spent part of the money to purchase a bracelet worth S$10,350.
He later claimed to have sold the bracelet in Batam to an unknown buyer and spent the proceeds along with the remaining cash.
Police identified Rasid and arrested him on 19 Sept.
During a raid on his home, authorities recovered the stolen Rolex and Audemars Piguet watches.
However, the cash and bracelet were not recovered.
Given his history of theft, Rasid faced up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both for each charge of theft.
Also read: Elderly man breaks into Serangoon coffee shop & steals cash, gets 9 years’ preventive detention
Elderly man breaks into Serangoon coffee shop & steals cash, gets 9 years’ preventive detention
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Featured image adapted from Suntec City Office Towers and pixelshot on Canva, for illustration purposes only.
