Alleged snatch thief targets woman, 78, playing Pokémon Go at 1am in Toa Payoh with 5 phones, wifi router & other valuables worth S$3,000

A 30-year-old man was arrested on Apr. 24 for allegedly snatching the sling bag of a 78-year-old woman in Toa Payoh, which contained items valued at over S$3,000.

The man, Muhaimin Bin Hairul Azzat, was charged in court on Apr. 26, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Charge sheets showed that the victim's bag was worth S$10, and the items inside included a wallet, an iPhone 15, four Samsung Galaxy phones, bank cards, and a Pokemon Go Plus device.

Shin Min reported that the victim was out at around 1:20am as she was playing Pokemon Go.

She had five mobile phones, as well as a portable wifi router on her.

She was in the vicinity "catching Pokemon", it was reported.

She was playing Pokemon Go, which is a mobile game.

People seen playing mobile game in the area

A Shin Min reporter who went to area where the alleged crime took place interviewed a delivery rider, who said she had noticed there were usually many people in the vicinity playing Pokemon Go on their mobile phones.

In an earlier police news release, it was revealed that the man was not known to the victim.

Officers from Tanglin Police Division established the identity of the accused through follow-up investigations and via surveillance and police camera footage.

He was arrested later that day.

The man was charged in court on Apr. 26 with snatch theft.

Police advised members of the public who encounter such cases to remain calm, and take note of the suspect's physical appearance and identifying features.

They should then call the police as soon as possible.

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News & Pokemon Go