Serial thief who stole from old folk jailed
Serial thief who stole from old folk jailed
One of his victims, Madam Yip Ah Kan, 95, was watering the plants outside her 13th-floor flat two years ago when Tai turned up and struck a conversation.
When the water in her watering can ran out, she shuffled back into her kitchen to refill it, unaware that the friendly painter would slip into her room to help himself to the S$16,000 (RM37,120) in cash and jewellery there.
On Monday, the man, Tai Soon Leong, 51, who stole a total of S$330,000 (RM765,600) after tricking more than 100 old folk into letting him enter their Housing Board homes, was jailed for four years.
The Malaysian painter pleaded guilty to 10 of 113 charges involving S$79,750 (RM185,020); the remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Madam Yip said in Hokkien on Monday: "I'm glad he has been jailed. He took all the money my children gave me and my daughter's jewellery too. I was scolded by my children."
Tai sometimes posed as an electrician. He would keep his victims occupied by asking them to use a pole to prop up a ceiling lamp while he ransacked their home and made his getaway. His other ruse was to smash the flower pots outside their homes to distract them.Photo: Singapore Police Force
Source: The Straits Times/ANN
Published March 1 201
Comments