Man, 45, stabs arm with scissors after being caught stealing at Hougang shopping mall

A 45-year-old man was caught stealing at a store selling household items at Hougang Green Shopping Mall at around 3:20pm on May 24, 2025.

The man begged to be let go, to no avail. He then proceeded to pick up a pair of scissors and stabbed himself in the left arm.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) told Mothership that they were alerted to a case of shop theft at 21 Hougang Street 51 at around 3:20pm.

The man was found with injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted, and was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

What happened

A store employee, 33, told Shin Min Daily News that the man was their frequent customer.

She saw that he picked up a radio and several memory cards, but noticed that his hands were empty after walking out of a blind spot.

When she checked the surveillance footage, she found the man had hidden the items in his bag.

The employee immediately chased after him and found him drinking nearby, so she brought him back to the store and contacted the boss.

She said the man did not behave unusually at first and just waited in the store, but when the boss arrived, he suddenly knelt and kowtowed, begging to be let go.

The employee said the man then suddenly picked up a pair of unopened scissors from the store, tore open the packaging, and stabbed his left arm with the scissors.

The man also smeared blood on himself with his hands.

The employee said that everyone was terrified at the moment, and more items were found on him by the police after he was sent to the hospital, including an unopened memory card.

Another shop assistant said they saw the man's upper body, especially his hands, were covered in blood.

Describing the sight to be "very horrifying", they noted that medical staff shortly arrived after the police to bandage his wounds.

He was then escorted away in a wheelchair under police supervision.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told Mothership that it received a call for assistance at 5 Buangkok Green at around 3:30pm on May 24, and the man was conveyed to the hospital.

The police said the man was subsequently arrested under the Mental Health Act.

The man is also assisting with the investigation of a theft case. Investigations are ongoing.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222 (24 hours)

Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 (for primary school-aged children)

SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 6571 4400 (for targets of online harms)

Top image via Shin Min Daily News