Car vandalized in private estate: Questions raised about police investigation

The Online Citizen (TOC) was approached by a member of the public regarding a vandalism incident that occurred on Saturday (16 Nov) in a private estate.

CCTV footage shared with TOC shows a man entering the estate around 8 PM, allegedly targeting a car and smashing its side mirror before leaving the premises.

According to the account provided, the suspect, described as a Chinese man in his 30s to 40s, gained access to the estate under the pretense of being a delivery driver.

However, subsequent CCTV footage reportedly shows that no deliveries were made during his time there. Instead, the man went directly to the car owned by the individual’s father-in-law, raising concerns about whether the act was intentional and possibly motivated by a vendetta.

The incident was reported to the police the following morning, with the member of the public claiming to have provided clear CCTV footage with timestamps, along with evidence of fingerprints left on the vehicle.

However, they allege that the police did not collect the fingerprints as part of their investigation.

They further expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the assigned investigation officer, noting difficulty in obtaining updates or assurances about the progress of the case.

To ensure accurate and balanced reporting, TOC has written to the police to seek clarification on the following points:

• Whether fingerprints were collected as part of the evidence in this case, and if not, the reasons for this decision.
• The police’s response to concerns about the perceived lack of communication from the assigned investigation officer.

These allegations, if true, could raise questions about how cases of vandalism and trespassing are handled, even when clear evidence is available. However, TOC acknowledges that further details from the police are necessary to verify these claims and to provide a clearer understanding of the investigation process.

To ensure transparency, TOC has also copied the Minister for Home Affairs in its correspondence.

TOC remains committed to presenting an accurate account of the incident and the subsequent investigation. We will include the police’s response in an updated version of this story once it is received.