News Desk
Singapore has sentenced three Chinese nationals to more than five years in jail each after they carried out a series of housebreaking attempts inspired by social‑media videos portraying Singaporeans as wealthy and easy targets.
The men — Yang Chao, Zhou Qifa and He Jiao — made multiple trips from Malaysia between July and August 2025, scouting secluded landed homes, buying tools, and attempting break‑ins under the cover of forested areas. Prosecutors said the group treated Singapore as “easy pickings” and operated like a small syndicate with clear roles and division of labour.
Only one burglary succeeded. A safe containing S$57,400 in cash and jewellery was stolen, though most of the valuables remain missing. Several accomplices are still at large, including two men believed to have fled Singapore after the first break‑in.
Judge Terence Tay called the case “especially egregious,” stressing that Singapore’s high‑trust environment must not be exploited by foreign criminals. He warned that like‑minded offenders will face severe punishment if they target local homes.
Police eventually tracked the men through forested corridors, deploying officers — including the Gurkha contingent — to intercept them. All three were arrested during their third trip, after a coordinated operation in the Holland–Bukit Timah area.
