More letterboxes tampered with, Budget 2020 vouchers allegedly stolen

More letterboxes have been tampered with in various Housing Board (HDB) estates islandwide, with grocery vouchers meant for lower-income Singaporeans allegedly stolen from them.

Police said yesterday that they have received reports of such incidents in residential areas including Marsiling and Bukit Merah, and a case of mischief at Block 89 Redhill Close.

They are investigating these cases.

This comes after SingPost said that letterboxes at blocks in Redhill and Lengkok Bahru were found forcibly prised open on Tuesday morning.

The affected blocks were 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 in Lengkok Bahru; 71 and 72 in Redhill Road; and 89 and 90 in Redhill Close.

A 37-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of stealing Budget 2020 grocery vouchers from letterboxes in Lorong 7 Toa Payoh.

It was the second such arrest in two months. On Sept 11, five 18-year-olds were apprehended for alleged theft of parcels from six blocks of HDB flats in Choa Chu Kang.

Those who are found guilty of theft can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

In a Facebook post, the police advised those eligible for the Budget 2020 grocery vouchers to collect them from their letterboxes as soon as possible.

Those who suspect that their vouchers have been stolen should make a police report immediately and call the Grocery Voucher hotline on 1800-2222-888 to ask for their vouchers to be voided and replaced.

The police also urged people to ensure that their letterboxes are secured at all times and to report any suspicious persons loitering around letterboxes.