Two foreign nationals, Zhang Yongxiang, 52, and Feng Yunlong, 38, were arrested in connection with a burglary at a landed estate in Singapore’s Holland Road area on December 16. The pair allegedly entered the victim’s home by first accessing an adjacent property under construction.
On December 26, police took Zhang and Feng back to the scene of the crime, a three-storey house with two parked cars. Feng led the officers to the nearby construction site, where it’s believed Zhang climbed over into the victim’s property from the third floor. Feng reportedly acted as a lookout outside.
The burglary took place at around 9 p.m. on December 16, when the owners were away. Among the stolen items were a Cartier Roadster watch worth $8,800 and a Casio Edifice watch valued at $150. The crime was reported by the victims on December 18.
Further investigation linked the duo to another housebreaking incident at a property on Zehnder Road in Buona Vista, which occurred on December 18. The police identified Zhang and Feng through security camera footage, leading them to a hotel in Joo Chiat, where they were arrested on the same day.
Authorities recovered a number of stolen items from the pair, including a branded pouch valued at $5,000, approximately $3,570 in cash, and an assortment of jewelry.
Residents in the Greenleaf View area, where the burglary occurred, expressed concern over the recent break-ins but noted increased police presence. One resident shared that police patrols had been frequent, particularly after a series of house break-ins in the nearby Bukit Sedap area in August.
The police have not ruled out the possibility that Zhang and Feng may be linked to larger criminal syndicates involved in recent high-value thefts. Between June and August of 2024, international gangs were responsible for stealing an estimated $3.85 million from at least 10 homes in Singapore, particularly targeting properties along the Rail Corridor and Bukit Timah Road.
Those convicted of housebreaking in Singapore can face up to 10 years in prison, along with fines.