Concierge steals valuables worth over $2m from condo unit

A senior concierge, who was part of a team that assisted residents at the Hilltops condominium in Cairnhill Circle, entered an apartment there and stole valuables worth over $2 million in total.

They included a Patek Philippe watch and a light green aquamarine gemstone.

Separately, Eric Lim Jin Rong also misappropriated more than $47,000 that was entrusted to him.

The money came from multiple residents for items such as management fees.

On Feb 28, the 31-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to four years and eight months' jail after he pleaded guilty to one count each of theft and criminal breach of trust.

Lim's sister has since made a restitution of nearly $22,000 on his behalf. The stolen valuables were also recovered from his home during a raid.

At the time of the offences, he was employed by a company called Seven Palms Resorts and was deployed to the condo.

While working at the property, he helped its residents with tasks including air-conditioner servicing and other miscellaneous matters.

He also collected money from residents at the condo's concierge counter.

The funds were then used for various purposes such as management fees and security deposits.

But between December 2023 and June 2024, Lim misappropriated more than $47,000 that was entrusted to him and used the ill-gotten gains to gamble.

To avoid suspicion, he falsified receipts that were issued for cash transactions.

He did so by writing on a "white copy" - which was for the resident - the amount collected from him or her.

After that, he wrote on a "pink copy" for the management and "blue copy" for the auditors a different amount from what was actually collected.

Lim then stated that the money had been used to pay for petty services such as the replacement of light bulbs.

The court heard that a Hilltops resident was about to leave for the airport in 2024 when he approached her.

Lim then asked the woman to hand over the key to her unit and her access card for "air-conditioner maintenance purposes" and she complied.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Daphne Lim said: "(Lim's offences) came to light after a tenant who had earlier handed monies to the accused approached the concierge office to request for a refund.

"Subsequently, the concierge office also started checking with residents with outstanding payments and was similarly informed that they had handed the monies over to the accused."

When Lim found out about what happened, he decided to leave Singapore for Thailand.

He also decided to enter the woman's unit and take some valuables that he could sell to sustain himself overseas.

On June 4, 2024, he used her key and access card to enter her apartment. He stole valuables that were worth more than $2 million.

He went to Thailand the next day, and a senior property manager with Seven Palms Resorts alerted the police on June 6.

Later that month, the resident returned to Singapore and made a police report when she realised her valuables were missing.

Lim returned to Singapore on July 1 and was arrested at Changi Airport. Court documents did not disclose the reasons behind his return.

Two days later, police raided his home and recovered the stolen valuables. Lim was later charged on court on July 12.