Residents raise alarm after man allegedly tries to attack community cats with penknife
He has reportedly been spotted in several neighbourhoods, including Yishun, Lengkok Bahru and Punggol.
A man has been accused of harassing and attempting to attack community cats with a penknife in multiple areas, including Yishun, Lengkok Bahru and Punggol, according to posts on the Sayang Our Singapore's Community Cats Facebook group.
Users said reports have been lodged with both the police and the National Parks Board (NParks).
Man allegedly attempts to attack cats with penknife
In one post on Aug 21, a Facebook user said she witnessed a man chasing two community cats at a carpark in front of Leng Kee Park in Lengkok Bahru.
The incident occurred around 5.20pm, and the man allegedly charged at two community cats, attempting to stab them with a penknife.
"He didn't manage to harm them (thankfully) and we chased him away while recording him," the user wrote.
She added that the local community feeders were alerted, and a police report was lodged.
Another user said they had seen the same man in the Chong Pang area on Aug 19 at around 11am, where he was allegedly "teasing and disturbing" a community cat named TamTam.
"I shooed him away, but he refused to go away and continued to loiter around the area," the user wrote.
They said they recognised him after spotting a similar post by another user and receiving an alert from a community feeder.
Reports to police and NParks made
In an Aug 22 post, the first user updated that the man was spotted at Block 53 Lengkok Bahru on Aug 21. Photos showed him crouching and peering under a van in a carpark, allegedly trying to splash water to lure a cat out.
Passers-by who sent the user the photo told her that he "gave up and went towards the mama shop, where he allegedly tried to attack another cat with a penknife in front of multiple people, including children."
"They shouted at the man to stop and pulled the children to safety," the user wrote. They later checked on the cat, which was reportedly "unharmed".
"Some of the men tried to follow him, but he crossed the road before they could catch up with him," the user wrote, adding that police reports have been made and NParks is conducting an active investigation.
The police confirmed that a report had been made.
In response to queries from The New Paper, NParks' Group Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Jessica Kwok, said the agency has spoken to witnesses and visited the incident site.
"There are no reports of cats harmed or injured at the location or immediate vicinity," she said.
She added that officers have interviewed a 22-year-old youth who attends a special needs training centre, and have also spoken with his family about his behaviour.
"We urge the public to not speculate but to let investigations run its course even as the family seeks professional assistance to better counsel and monitor the youth," she said.