Two teens arrested after attempt to steal gold chains worth $23,000 from Chinatown jewellery shop

Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in a case of theft from a jewellery shop in Chinatown.

The police said in a statement that they were alerted to a theft of gold chains from a jewellery shop along Park Road on Apr 23 at 5.33pm.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 14-year-old teen had posed as a customer and asked to see two gold chains.

He then ran out of the shop with the chains before the shop's staff managed to stop him and recover the jewellery.

The 17-year-old teen was later established to have allegedly instructed the 14-year-old on how to carry out the theft.

Officers established the identity of the 17-year-old teen and arrested him along Fernvale Road.

Investigations against the two teenagers are ongoing.

According to The Straits Times, the 14-year-old boy had walked into Chung Hwa Jade & Jewellery and asked to see two gold chains.

When Mr Teng Wei Siong, who runs the family-owned business with his brother, showed him the two chains weighing 50g and 80g, the teen asked to see heavier ones.

He then took out two other gold chains weighing 100g and 130g, reportedly worth about $23,000, to show the boy.

In CCTV footage shared with ST, the boy took the second pair of gold chains and ran out of the shop when Mr Teng had his back turned to put the first pair of chains back.

Mr Teng and his brother, Mr Teng Wei Xin, ran after the boy and managed to catch him.

They took him back to the shop and called the police.

Those found guilty of theft in dwelling with common intention can be jailed for up to seven years and fined.