SINGAPORE: A man was sentenced to three weeks’ jail on Thursday (Feb 23) for stealing eight tins of milk powder from a supermarket, as well as toys from a Toys R Us store.
Chen Yixian, Joshua, 34, said he stole the milk powder to sell on Carousell, but claimed he filched the toys for his children.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft. A third charge – of having another six tins of milk powder in his possession that he could not account for, and that are suspected to be stolen – was taken into consideration.
The court heard that Chen, a Singaporean technician, went to NTUC FairPrice at Waterway Point on the night of Jun 22 last year, to steal milk.
He took eight 900g tins of Enfagrow Pro A+ Stage 3 milk powder, worth S$422.40 in total.
He then hid himself behind a pillar and concealed the tins in a blue cooler bag he brought with him, before leaving the supermarket at about 9.15pm.
A security guard on duty at the supermarket saw Chen stealing the powder and detained him outside. He took him to the security office, where the eight tins were recovered.
The guard also found other items bearing Toys R Us labels in the bag.
He was arrested and admitted that he intended to sell the milk powder for profit on Carousell.
Chen’s case is one of 80 involving milk powder stolen from supermarkets or grocers last year, according to figures released by the police in January. This led to estimated losses of S$27,000.
Most offenders over the last three years were aged between their 20s to 40s, the police said, adding that around 35 per cent of such cases were carried out in groups of two or more.
Investigations revealed that Chen had also gone to Toys R Us earlier that same night, to steal S$213.94 worth of toys.
These included a S$99.99 box of Batman Lego and a Thomas & Friends wooden toy priced at S$34.99.
He claimed he stole the toys for his children.