Chinese tourist allegedly chases man for 2 blocks after Gucci bag with $8,000 cash snatched at Circular Road

A Chinese tourist allegedly chased after a man for two streets after he snatched her Gucci handbag containing $8,000 in cash at Circular Road on Aug 30.

The 38-year-old woman, surnamed Wan, had arrived in Singapore on Aug 29 and was staying at Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, reported Shin Min Daily News.

According to the report, Wan had been shopping near People's Park Complex at around 6.30pm on Aug 30 when a middle-aged man approached her.

The man spoke fluent Mandarin and told Wan that he was from Taiwan and had lived in Singapore for some time.

Wan told Shin Min that she was looking to exchange money at a bank and was also unhappy with her hotel stay.

The man allegedly offered to help her with both matters.

Wan subsequently returned to her hotel to collect her belongings before meeting the man again at around 7.30pm.

He then brought her to what appeared to be a mobile phone shop, which he claimed belonged to a friend.

According to Wan, she exchanged 44,000 yuan for $8,000 there.

Man allegedly snatched bag and ran

The man then purportedly told Wan that he would take her to Boat Quay before bringing her to Marina Bay Sands.

Wan said he told her the destinations were nearby, but they ended up walking for a long time.

She suggested taking a ride instead, but the man allegedly said he knew a shortcut and that they would arrive within 10 minutes.

"That was when I got suspicious," the tourist recounted to the Chinese evening daily.

She said the man had deliberately taken her on a detour, resulting in her walking for more than an hour and becoming exhausted.

When they reached Circular Road, Wan said she told the man that she did not want to continue walking.

He allegedly suggested going to a nearby bar, but Wan refused. He then snatched her Gucci handbag and ran away.

Wan gave chase while shouting for help, pursuing him for about two blocks.

She told Shin Min that the handbag was worth more than $5,000 and contained the $8,000 in cash she had exchanged earlier. 

A male passer-by reportedly heard her cries for help and intervened.

Another man who witnessed the incident also joined the chase, and the two men eventually caught up with the suspect.

Wan said members of the public helped keep an eye on the man while others called the police.

In response to queries from AsiaOne, the police said they received a call for assistance at 1 Circular Road at around 9.05pm on Aug 30.

A 45-year-old man was subsequently arrested for theft. Police investigations are ongoing.

According to Wan, the man allegedly told police officers that he was her friend and that the handbag-snatching was merely a prank.

Wan said she found the explanation absurd, given how far she had chased him.

She added that she had travelled overseas alone on previous occasions without encountering such an incident and had therefore let her guard down.

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