Singapore jails 3 Chinese nationals over social media-inspired burglary spree

Three Chinese nationals who travelled to Singapore to break into houses and steal expensive items after they saw multiple videos on social media about wealthy…

Three Chinese nationals who travelled to Singapore to break into houses and steal expensive items after they saw multiple videos on social media about wealthy Singaporeans were sentenced to jail on Thursday.

The three men, Yang Chao, Zhou Qifa and He Jiao, conspired to target vulnerable properties in Singapore, break into the houses, steal valuables and leave the country with them.

Both Yang, 42, and He, 38, were sentenced to five years and three months in prison, while Zhou, 37, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison.

They were part of a larger group of men who travelled to Singapore by land from Malaysia multiple times to try breaking into homes to steal valuable items.

A fourth man, Zhou Yinggui, 36, is charged with similar offences, while another two, Hu Wen and Zhou Ji, remain at large.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Benedict Teong sought a sentence of five years and three months to five years and 10 months in prison for all three men, arguing for general deterrence.

They took steps to ensure that their actions would be difficult to detect and targeted vulnerable houses in locations with fewer passers-by or with no CCTVs, he added.

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