Jail for mother and daughter who went on 2-hour shoplifting spree on Orchard Road

SINGAPORE — A mother and her daughter wanted to go shopping at Orchard Road, but decided to steal things instead after realising they did not have cash.

Over about two hours, they stole items from several shopping malls in the area — including two pairs of Havaianas slippers, five pairs of workout shorts from Cotton On, and 24 pairs of "seamless" panties and a sports bra from Victoria’s Secret.

On Wednesday (Aug 21), Fong Leok Moy, 68, and her 41-year-old daughter Wong Phuay Yee were each sentenced to 10 days’ jail for their actions. District Judge Eddy Tham allowed them to begin serving their sentences on Aug 29.

They pleaded guilty to three counts of theft each, with seven charges taken into consideration for sentencing.

FRUIT PEELERS, CAKE, SOAP AMONG ITEMS STOLEN

The court heard that on Oct 22, 2017, Fong and Wong left their home at about 3pm and decided to steal things from various stores along Orchard Road.

A sales assistant at a FitFlop store in Wisma Atria mall recognised them because they had stolen from the outlet a week ago. When the duo left without buying anything, he followed them and then called the police.

The pair were detained by police officers, who found several stolen items on them.

They admitted to stealing two pairs of slippers from a Havaianas store, also in Wisma Atria, with a total value of S$109.80.

Upon further checks, they admitted to stealing shorts from clothing shop Cotton On, valued at S$29.95 each, and the stash of underwear — with a total value of S$491 — from Victoria’s Secret at Mandarin Gallery.

Court documents showed that they also stole:

• Two pairs of footwear from FitFlop

• A Japanese dessert from Iroha Mart at Plaza Singapura

• A box of Castella cake from Paris Baguette Cafe in Wisma Atria

• Two fruit peelers from a Muji store

• Four soap bars from a L’Occitane store in Ngee Ann City

• A container of candles from a Bath & Body Works store in Takashimaya

‘OUGHT TO HAVE REALISED SERIOUSNESS OF THEFT’ 

State Prosecuting Officer M Mariyappan told the court that the pair were previously convicted in 2016 for similar offences.

Back then, they were ordered to comply with a three-month Day Reporting Order. This requires offenders to report regularly to a centre for counselling and rehabilitation, and they will not have a criminal record of the offence upon successful completion of the order. 

District Judge Tham noted that as both Fong and Wong were given community-based sentences before, “they ought to have realised the seriousness (of theft)”.

“Unfortunately, they did not cherish that and went on to commit not one, but 10 offences… I agree that a custodial sentence ought to be imposed in this case,” he added.

In mitigation, their lawyer T M Sinnadurai told the court that Fong was having trouble with her husband at the time, adding that both mother and daughter were unemployed then.

They have been seeking psychiatric and psychological treatment “to stay clear of what they were doing”, as they were “unable to cope” with their depression and stress, the lawyer said. 

All the items were also recovered and they have offered to compensate the stores, he added.