Man arrested after setting fires at Buangkok and Yishun, pointing knife at civilian and stealing slippers

A 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly causing a fire at Buangkok Crescent.

The police said in a statement that they were alerted on June 2 at 2.08am to a case of fire purportedly set by the man outside a residential unit at Block 999A Buangkok Crescent.

Officers established the identity of the man and arrested him within the same day.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is also suspected to be involved in a separate incident reported on May 25 at 9.58pm at Block 412 Yishun Ring Road where he allegedly brandished a knife at a member of the public and stole a pair of slippers from a nearby shop.

The knife was seized as a case exhibit.

The offences of mischief by fire and shop theft each carry a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.

"The police have zero tolerance towards such brazen acts and will not hesitate to act against those who blatantly disregard the law," the statement said.