4 caught loitering near Woodlands warehouse unit, plot to steal seized vapes from authorities foiled

An alleged plot to steal e-vaporisers and related paraphernalia seized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) was foiled after four people were caught loitering near a Woodlands warehouse unit where the seized items were stored.

The first person nabbed was a 35-year-old detained by HSA on March 23 and subsequently arrested by the police for drug-related offences.

Investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in discussing a plan to remove the seized items from the warehouse unit and had also obtained various equipment, including harnesses and ropes, to carry out the plan.

The equipment was seized as case exhibits.

On March 26, HSA alerted the police again when they spotted two men loitering suspiciously near the warehouse unit.

The two men, aged 22 and 38, were detained by officers from Woodlands Police Division and HSA.

It was established that the 38-year-old man allegedly offered money to the younger man to remove the seized items from the warehouse unit.

Both men had gone to the site to survey the unit and a woman, 21, was found in their company. All three people were arrested.

The three men were charged in court on March 28 with the offence of abetment of housebreaking, which carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

Police investigations against the woman are ongoing.