In the movies, when someone robs a bank, they typically threaten the teller with a gun. Even without shooting, the sight of a gun that could go off at any moment is scary enough to make you comply with their instructions.
Unfortunately for aspiring bank robbers in Singapore, guns are illegal here, which means they have to turn to other weapons as a means of intimidation.
You’d expect them to go with a sharp object, but one robber chose something a little lighter.
Paper-light, that is.
Everything About the Robbery at Bukit Batok Whereby a Robber Robbed with a Piece of Paper (Again)
At around 7pm on Thursday (8 July), a 30-year-old Singaporean allegedly walked into a licensed moneylender along Bukit Batok Street 31.
Inside, he showed a female employee a handwritten note. He also allegedly indicated he had a knife in his bag.
Scared, the victim complied with the man’s instructions and handed over S$22,000 in cash, after which he fled the scene.
He was caught just 11 hours later, arrested along Lorong 8 Geylang. This was despite him trying to cover his tracks and mask his identity, which included covering up his features with a hat.
Footage obtained from nearby police CCTV cameras helped officers establish the identity of the man.
Officers Found Two Handwritten Notes
Even bank robbers struggle with writer’s block, or crippling self-doubt.
When officers apprehended the suspect, they seized S$18,500 in cash, a bag, and two demand notes.
One note said: “Don’t panic. Don’t shout. This is a robbery. Fill up the bag with money. You have two minutes. Or else!”
The other read: “This is a robbery. Don’t shout. Don’t panic. Put all the money in the bag and nobody will get hurt.”
I think the second one has a nicer tone.
The police are still working to recover the rest of the stolen cash and the knife that was allegedly used in the robbery.
The suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, is expected to be charged today (10 July).
If found guilty, he faces up to 14 years’ imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane.
Man Who Robbed Bank With Piece of Paper in 2016 Gets 5 Years in Jail
You’re probably wondering why we used the word “again” in the headline.
Well, that’s because we recently wrote an article about a similar crime that took place back in 2016.
The perpetrator, David James Roach, came to Singapore that year on a social visit pass.
On 7 July, the Canadian entered a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Holland Avenue and showed the cashier a handwritten note that said:
“This is a robbery, I have a gun in my bag”.
The cashier, understandably, complied with his instructions.
While Roach managed to escape at first, he was eventually extradited from the UK, with the condition that he not be caned as part of his sentence.
On 7 July, the now 31-year-old was sentenced to five years’ jail and six strokes of the cane.
So, whether it’s a gun, knife, or really sharp cup, don’t rob banks. It never ends well.
Featured Image: SPF