A 28-YEAR-OLD man believed to be involved in a series of theft of copper lightning conductor strips at Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang last month was arrested early on Wednesday.

Four officers from Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre on an anti-crime operation spotted the man hiding behind a pillar at Block 690D, Choa Chu Kang Crescent.

He appeared nervous, raising the suspicions of the officers.

After a search of the vicinity, officers found a cutter and torchlight beside the pillar where he was spotted.

On further questioning, the man led the officers to the centralised rubbish chute of Block 692A Choa Chu Kang Crescent, where he had hidden some copper strips stolen from the void deck.

Follow-up investigations revealed that that he may be linked to at least seven similar thefts at housing estates in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang over the past one month.

The suspect, a Malaysian, will be charged in court on Thursday for theft. If convicted, he can be jailed up to three years, or fined, or both.

Is this article useful to you?