Man steals S$220 worth of sea cucumbers at Bencoolen, runs away for 400m before giving up

Stole sea cucumbers in a plastic bag

On Oct. 28, a shopkeeper by the name of Wu Wen Qing said that a man visited his shop at Block 269 Queen Street.

Standing in front of a display case of sea cucumbers, the man had apparently been browsing the goods, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

He then reportedly took out a plastic bag, and hastily started placing the sea cucumbers into it.

As he was about to leave, a shop employee reportedly shouted at the man, “You’re stealing ah?”

Upon hearing this, the man fled, and Wu gave chase.

Wu told Zaobao that “there were a lot of people” and that the man was “running very fast”.

After heading towards a Hindu temple, the man then turned into a small alley.

Wu said that he feared for the thief’s life as he was afraid the man would get hit by a car, and shouted at him. However the man continued running.

Gave up halfway

Wu reportedly then ran into a pair of police patrol officers, and they gave chase as well.

It appears though, the man’s health might have took precedent over some illegally-obtained seafood.

According to Zaobao, the man became breathless after running about 400m.

He then unexpectedly gave up running, and sat down in front of an unnamed hotel and waited to be surrendered to police.

Singapore Police told Mothership that the man was subsequently arrested at 12:25pm on that Monday, for theft in a dwelling at 170 Bencoolen Street.

The sea cucumbers were reportedly worth S$220.

Police investigations are ongoing.