SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has revealed in a press release sent today (Nov 8) that graffiti was discovered on the exterior of a train at Bishan depot this morning before it was put into service.

The Police said that a call requesting assistance was received at 6.41am at the premise along Ang Mo Kio Ave 1. The incident has been reported to the Police and the LTA.

“LTA takes a serious view of the incident and is working with the Police and SMRT on the investigations,” the press release read.

A spokesperson for the LTA added, "Following earlier incidents of security breach, the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) have taken steps to enhance the security at the train depots. These include increasing the number of security personnel and frequency of security patrols at the depot, as well as upgrading the perimeter fencing around the depot.

"Today's incident shows that security threats continue to evolve and agencies will continue to work to address security challenges faced. LTA is currently working with the Police and SMRT on the investigations of the 2014 incidents, to determine the cause of the incidents."

There have been three previous cases of vandalism experienced by SMRT. In May 2010, the fence at SMRT’s Changi depot was cut through by vandals and graffiti was spray-painted on one side of a train. One of the vandals, Swiss national Oliver Fricker, was given seven months’ jail and three strokes of the cane, while his accomplice, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, remains at large.

In August 2011, a hole was cut in the fence at the Bishan depot, and the words “Jet Setter’s” were spray-painted on one of the trains.