A man believed to be a local actor was accused of breaking into a digital door lock at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Telok Blangah on Sunday, 15 September. Police confirmed that they were alerted to the incident at Blk 93B Telok Blangah St 31 at around 11:25 am. A 39-year-old man was apprehended under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act.
Background
The incident has raised concerns about the security of digital door locks in HDB flats. The man, who is believed to be a local actor, was caught on CCTV footage attempting to break into a flat. This incident has prompted discussions about mental health and the effectiveness of digital security measures in residential areas.
Shirtless man opened flat gate on CCTV footage
CCTV footage shared by a resident showed a shirtless man walking along an HDB corridor in socks, carrying a red bag in one hand and a pair of shoes in the other. The footage, captured around 10:57 am, showed the man putting down the bag and sitting beside the gate of a unit. He then stood up and eyed the gate before opening it at about 10:59 am.
Police found the man in 1 hour
Laura, the resident of the affected unit, told Shin Min Daily News that her family was out for dinner when they received a notification that someone had rung their doorbell. Initially thinking it was a deliveryman, Laura later saw in the CCTV footage that the man had managed to unlock her gate despite the digital lock. The man did not unlock the flat door and left. On his way out, he was seen by Laura’s domestic worker, who was unaware of the attempted break-in.
“Thankfully he wasn’t carrying any weapons and didn’t hurt anyone,” Laura said. Her husband called the police, and Laura informed her neighbour group chat about the incident. The police found the man in the vicinity of the block within one hour. Laura added, “We are also considering replacing our digital lock.”
Another neighbour mentioned that his wife had seen the man outside their door, holding a trolley that had been placed outside their house. The man had rung their doorbell and claimed to be a deliveryman, although the neighbour and his wife had not ordered anything online.
Community response and future implications
The incident has sparked discussions among residents about the security of digital locks and the importance of mental health awareness. Local actor Ryan Lian, who has previously opened up about his struggles with mental health, was mentioned in connection with the incident. This has led to a broader conversation about the support available for individuals facing mental health challenges.
Residents are now more vigilant and are considering additional security measures for their homes. The community is also looking into organising mental health awareness programmes to better understand and support those in need.
