Three men targeted six places of worship in a two-day crime spree, stealing over $1,000.
SINGAPORE – Three Chinese nationals were sentenced to seven months in prison each after a calculated two-day spree of thefts from donation boxes at six places of worship across Singapore.
Elaborate Plan Inspired by Social Media
The trio—Zou Fangshou, 32, Qin Xiaonuo, 29, and Qin Chaoban, 38—learned their theft method through instructional videos on Douyin, a Chinese video-hosting platform. Using string, metal pieces, and sticky tape, they devised a way to extract cash from donation boxes.
Arriving in Singapore on September 6, they purchased the necessary materials near their hotel and began their operation, targeting prominent religious sites including:
The Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) in Thomson Road
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Upper Serangoon Road
The Pu Ti Buddhist Temple in Punggol Road
The Fo Guang Shan Temple in Punggol Place
The Church of the Transfiguration in Punggol Central
BW Monastery in Woodlands Drive
The Thefts
Taking turns, one would manipulate the donation box using the prepared tools while another kept watch. They collected $1,479 in cash and other currencies, including US, Canadian, and Hong Kong dollars.
Suspicion and Arrest
Their suspicious behavior drew attention from staff and volunteers, who reported the activities to the police. Photos of the suspects circulated on WhatsApp, alerting other places of worship. At the Church of the Transfiguration, Zou noticed he was being watched and discarded their tools into a nearby river.
Police utilized CCTV footage to track the trio to their hotel, leading to their arrest.
Court Proceedings
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jocelyn Teo detailed the methodical approach of the group during the court hearing. The men pleaded guilty to theft-in-dwelling with common intention.
The prosecutor emphasized the premeditated nature of their actions, noting how they traveled to Singapore specifically for this purpose after studying techniques online.
Sentence and Reflection
Each offender was sentenced to seven months in jail. The case highlights the growing influence of social media in facilitating criminal behavior and the swift action by law enforcement to address such incidents.
