Man spots alleged thief with dried meat bought using his bank cards

A 45-year-old man who lost his wallet at Chinatown MRT station managed to track down and detain a woman after receiving bank alerts showing purchases made with his stolen cards.

Wallet Goes Missing At MRT Station
Gao, a facilities manager, told Shin Min Daily News that he had placed his phone and crossbody bag near a charging socket at Chinatown MRT station at around 4pm on Feb 21, 2026.

After stepping away briefly, he returned to retrieve his belongings from the station’s control room, where a “kind person” had reportedly handed them in.

However, upon reaching Clarke Quay MRT station, he realised that his wallet — containing cash, bank cards, his ID, driver’s licence and house key — was missing.

Suspicion Falls On “Kind Person”
Gao immediately returned to Chinatown MRT station to lodge a report.

After reviewing CCTV footage, police suspected that the individual who had handed in his belongings could be linked to the missing wallet. However, footage did not capture the exact moment of the alleged theft, and investigations were ongoing.

Bank Alerts Lead To Breakthrough
As Gao was preparing to leave the station, he received notifications of two transactions on his bank card — S$66.60 and S$22.20 — made at Lim Chee Guan, a popular bak kwa shop near the MRT station.

Having seen the woman earlier during the CCTV review, Gao headed to the store in hopes of finding her.

On an escalator, he spotted a woman carrying two bags of dried meat. Recognising her, he called the police and restrained her until officers arrived.

Arrest And Medical Response
Police later confirmed that they received a call for assistance at about 5.05pm at Chinatown MRT station. A 46-year-old woman was arrested for cheating. Investigations are ongoing.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it received a call at around 7.10pm at 91 Upper Cross Street. A person was assessed but declined hospital conveyance.

According to Gao, the woman apologised repeatedly and claimed to have a heart condition after being detained.

Shop Staff Noticed Odd Behaviour
A Lim Chee Guan employee told Shin Min that the woman had behaved strangely, asking to “try swiping her card” before completing purchases totalling around S$88.

She initially bought about S$22 worth of bak kwa, left the shop briefly, and returned to make additional purchases.

The incident serves as a reminder that even in a city widely regarded as safe, unattended belongings remain vulnerable. Quick action and timely bank alerts helped the victim recover control of the situation, while investigations into the alleged misuse of his cards continue.

Sources: Mothership (2026) , Sammy Boy (2026)

Keywords: Chinatown MRT Theft, Bak Kwa Purchase Fraud, Singapore Wallet Stolen, Police Arrest Chinatown, Bank Card Misuse Singapore