Couple barricade themselves in Teban Gardens HDB flat in 5 hour standoff with police: Shin Min

A couple barricaded themselves in their Teban Gardens Housing Development Board (HDB) flat in a five-hour-long standoff with police on Mar. 19.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the police operation took place at 5am.

Three police cars, two anti-riot tactical vehicles, four SCDF rescue vehicles and one ambulance were dispatched to the scene, reported Shin Min.

It was reported that police surrounded the flat, broke down the door and lowered themselves to the 13th-floor window before arresting the couple.

In response to queries from Mothership, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance at Block 40 Teban Gardens Road.

SCDF deployed two safety life air packs, and rescuers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team were on standby as a precautionary measure.

Police cordoned off area

A Shin Min reader told the outlet that someone had locked themselves inside their home and was in a standoff with police.

Pictures of the incident showed that police had cordoned off the area, and the SCDF also deployed nets from the unit above to the window of the affected unit.

A 60-year-old retiree, Liu, who lived in the unit above, told Shin Min she heard the police knocking on her door at 7:15am.

At around 8am, more than 10 police officers entered her home.

"Five or six police officers arrived and lowered themselves down through the windows of my living room, kitchen and guest room using ropes. They were also carrying large scissors."

She said: "It was quite a big operation; I felt it must be a very serious case".

Standoff ended at 10am

Shin Min reported that the two people opened their door at around 10am, and the police conducted an investigation.

At around 11am, the man and woman were handcuffed and escorted to a police car.

Liu said the arrested couple were suspected of being tenants at the house.

Another neighbour, surnamed Ma (transliteration), who lived next door, told Shin Min that she had noticed two women and a man moving into the unit in November 2025.

She said she rarely saw them and thought their flat was still under renovation as packages were often left outside their door for a long time.

Ma added that the officers attempted to detect the location and movement of people in the unit through the walls, but eventually decided to go to the higher floor instead.

Police rummaged through bins

According to Shin Min, the area was largely cordoned off, and a search was conducted in multiple locations in the HDB block.

The police were also seen rummaging through the flower pots, bins and garbage collection areas.

Two police officers were also seen at a grassy patch across the road seemingly searching for something.

Mothership has reached out to the police for comment.

Top photo from Shin Min Daily News