Tourist loses S$919 camera after asking stranger for help taking photos at Fort Canning Tree Tunnel

A tourist visiting Singapore asked a stranger to help take photos at the popular Fort Canning Tree Tunnel but ended up losing her camera which was valued at over 5,000 RMB (S$919).

Requested help with photos

Lee, a 21-year-old student from China, told Shin Min Daily News that she was travelling alone and arrived at the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel around 12:45pm on Feb. 20.

She handed both her phone and a DJI pocket gimbal camera to a woman wearing a white dress and a straw hat, asking her to take a photo.

“She was standing behind me, and we spoke briefly. After taking the photos, she handed my phone back to me to check the pictures and then quickly left,” Lee explained.

Less than three minutes later, Lee realised that the camera was still in the woman’s possession.

"Once I realised, I quickly searched the park for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Feeling helpless, I had no choice but to call the police for help. I also take responsibility for not retrieving the camera immediately," she said.

No surveillance footage near tunnel

When the police arrived, they reviewed nearby surveillance footage and found that the woman was accompanied by a middle-aged man.

However, since there were no cameras around the Tree Tunnel area, the search became challenging.

Lee expressed her distress, saying that the camera, which she purchased four months ago for over 5,000 RMB (S$919), was expensive for a student like her.

"The customer service team told me that the camera doesn’t have a tracking feature, so even if I report it as lost, it can still be used. But if the person intends to return it, they should be able to contact me through customer service or the police."

Lee was scheduled to leave Singapore on Feb. 22 and had hoped to recover the camera by then.

The police confirmed with Shin Min that they have received the report and are investigating the case.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News and DJI's website