POLICE have arrested three suspected pickpockets who are believed to be part of a syndicate responsible for the recent spate of thefts in Tampines, Central, Bedok Central and Ang Mo Kio Hub.

All Vietnamese nationals, the two women and man, aged between 28 and 38 years, were nabbed with the help of an alert sales assistant in a Tampines shopping mall on Thursday evening, said police.

Ms Connie Ang called the police at about 7.50 pm on Thursday to report that she had seen the three suspects trying to steal from a shopper in her shop. She then tailed the suspects but lost sight of them in the crowd.

When police arrived, she handed over the footage captured from the CCTV camera in her shop.

She later came across another three suspicious-looking persons loitering in the mall. The spunky Ms Ang followed them and immediately called the police.

The trio were arrested shortly. Two mobile phones were seized from them.

They will be charged in court on Friday for two counts of theft, which carries a jail term of up three years, or a fine, or both.

Meanwhile, police are looking for the other suspects believed to be targeting shoppers in the Tampines areas.

'These pickpockets would usually steal exposed items such as handphones and wallets from bags, or unzip or cut bags of unsuspecting victims, while his accomplice or accomplices distract the victim, keep watch or block the view of other members of the public,' said a police statement on Thursday night.

Assistant Commissioner Lim Kok Thai, Commander of Bedok Police Division, has commended Ms Ang for her alertness and for coming forward to help police catch the suspects.

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