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Singaporeans show support for Yishun theft victims, driving their curry puff sales up

SINGAPORE — They came from as far as Tampines, Geylang and Tiong Bahru to Yishun Park Hawker Centre to show their support, after they heard about how thieves stole more than S$1,000 from a little curry puff stall.

People from various parts of Singapore visited this curry puff stall in Yishun Park Hawker Centre after learning about how it had been victims of theft.

People from various parts of Singapore visited this curry puff stall in Yishun Park Hawker Centre after learning about how it had been victims of theft.

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SINGAPORE — They came from as far as Tampines, Geylang and Tiong Bahru to Yishun Park Hawker Centre to show their support, after they heard about how thieves stole more than S$1,000 from a little curry puff stall.

On Saturday (June 15), one customer even gave the owners S$300, hoping it could go some way to support their three children, who are aged four, 10 and 13.

“I was very (touched), I hugged her,” said 34-year-old Kalsom Kamis, one-half of the couple who owns the stall.

In an interview on Friday, the couple had told TODAY about their heartache after six youths climbed into their stall, raided their cash register and stole S$1,064 in July last year.

It was money they had carefully put aside to buy equipment that would have helped to reduce the intensive labour involved in making the curry puffs.

Mdm Kalsom said she cried a lot and that it would “take around 600 curry puffs to get the money back”.

The story drew strong reactions from Singaporeans on social media, with several commenting that they would head down to the stall and buy Mdm Kalsom’s curry puffs.

And indeed, many turned up to buy curry puffs and two of them even offered money.

The husband-and-wife team told TODAY on Sunday that they have never seen such strong sales before and are extremely touched by the concern and generosity shown by Singaporeans.

“Some asked questions like ‘what happened’, ‘how can be like that’, ‘how is business’. Some tell us to take care,” said Mdm Kalsom.

CURRY PUFFS SOLD OUT

The couple used to sell about 100 to 150 curry puffs every day. Since the story of their plight broke, they have been selling more than 200 daily.

On Saturday, they had to stop selling for some 15 minutes so that Mdm Kalsom could make a fresh batch of curry puffs after the first batch sold out.

“I never expected it,” said her 39-year-old husband, Mr Zaidi Zainal.

“Some customers have to wait, I paiseh (shy) lah. I have to say sorry.”

On Saturday, Mdm Kalsom had to make a second batch of curry puffs after the first batch sold out. Photo: Najeer Yusof

Some customers TODAY spoke to said they decided to visit the stall after reading about the theft.

Mr Billy Lim, 54, who bought two curry puffs, felt that it was the least he could do.

The teacher said in jest: “Rob this kind of small shop, go and rob a bank lah, don’t rob this kind of shop.”

Another customer, Ms Nur Azlin Jumari, 34, said she felt that the couple’s situation was quite “pitiful” as S$1,000 is “not a small amount”.

Together with her family, they bought 18 curry puffs.

While still reeling from the loss, Mdm Kalsom believes that the theft has been a blessing, given the outpouring of support she has received so far.

She told TODAY that after the theft, she went to a mosque and donated S$20.

“My father told me, ‘You never know, you donate to the mosque S$20, (it) may become more than what you lose. You never know, could be two times or three times more’,” she said.

“So now, I know (it’s true).”

Related topics

hawker yishun curry puff steal Youth crime

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