Ok, the first question is why are we reporting Milk powder theft data now?
Following a widely shared online post regarding the supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice locking milk powder behind shelves to deter thieves, MP Murali Pillai of the People’s Action Party commented about milk powder thefts on Facebook last week.
The supermarket’s outlet at Bukit Batok MRT Station provided the image that went viral, and it later claimed that it began the trial there because infant formula is “a common item that is typically shoplifted.”
Last Thursday, the topic was discussed by Mr. Murali Pillai, the Bukit Batok representative to parliament. In a Facebook video, he said that a media report’s sensational nature may have created the idea that some individuals “can’t even afford milk powder for their children”.
Mr Pillai, MP of Bukit Batok, said on that the typical shoplifters were milk powder resellers who intended to make a profit.
TOTAL ESTIMATED LOSSES : $70,000
According to the report, there were 80 cases of theft involving “milk powder” from supermarkets or grocers last year, causing estimated losses of S$27,000.
“There were 73 cases of milk powder theft in 2020, 96 in 2021, and 80 in 2022, resulting in estimated losses of S$18,000, S$26,000 and S$27,000 respectively”, according to police.
In response to media inquiries, the authorities disclosed the data on Wednesday (Jan. 25), following steps taken by a grocery chain to deter similar thefts.
According to the police, most of the offenders were in their 20s to 40s and 35% of these crimes were committed in groups of two or more.
About 39 per cent of the cases were taken to court and offenders faced charges of theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code, the police added.
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