S'pore man, 37, allegedly damaged ATMs by placing tissue paper beneath card & inserting it in slot

The police will be charging a 37-year-old man for his suspected involvement in multiple cases of mischief that disrupted key services.

Between Apr. 27 and 29, 2026, the police were alerted by a bank to multiple cases of mischief involving a man who had purportedly disrupted the functioning of several Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Through a review of the bank’s CCTV footage, the man was observed placing a piece of tissue paper beneath the ATM card before inserting both into the card slot of the ATM.

Upon withdrawing the card, the tissue was left behind inside the slot, resulting in disruption to some ATMs at the following locations: along Battery Road, Chinatown, Tanjong Katong, Woodlands, Toa Payoh, Marina Bay, and Paya Lebar.

Rectification works had to be carried out to restore the ATMs’ functionality.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of CCTV footage, officers from the Central Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on Apr. 30, 2026.

He will be charged in court on May 2, 2026, for the offence of committing mischief and thereby causing disruption to key services. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years, a fine, or both.