Pregnant Leader Behind Singapore’s Largest Shoplifting Stunt
Vietnamese suspects, a team with a tactical plan, took over 1,400 items — roughly $45,000 worth — from Uniqlo stores across Singapore.
Who were the culprits?
- Nguyen Thi Thu Huong – 31, pregnant, ringleader, sentenced to 1 year and 11 months.
- Tran Thi Phuong Thao – 29, got 1 year and 10 months.
- Duong Tuan Dat – 27, same sentence as Nguyen.
- Van Tu Nguyen – 30, also 1 year and 11 months.
The four were unrepresented in court and Van Tu Nguyen announced his intent to appeal.
How the heist unfolded
All four sketched a blueprint in Vietnam before heading to Singapore on 13 September 2024, armed with aluminium‑lined bags that muffled the store sensors.
They hit Downtown East mall in Pasir Ris on 15 September around 1:30 pm:
- Tran lined two empty suitcases outside a Uniqlo outlet.
- Nguyen and Van loaded up a stack of winterwear into the special bags.
- Duong lugged the loot to Tran, who had the suitcases ready.
- They repeated the process, creating layers of stolen goods.
Hilarity—or chaos—was interrupted when Duong’s alarm triggered. Van shouted, “Run!” and Duong escaped, but unable to stay hidden, the police were summoned.
Aftermath
On 16 September, police nabbed all four at a hotel room on Chin Swee Road. They seized 818 clothing items worth over $21,000.
Four days later, another 636 items (worth more than $23,000) were found later at a different hotel, further proving the sheer scale.
Legal outcome
Each member pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of possessing fraudulently obtained items.
- One count of theft.
The judge, Jill Tan, handed out the sentences, rigidly sticking to the original determinations.
Final note
Though the operation might have seemed like a heist thriller, it was a stark reminder that clever planning meets zero tolerance. In the words of the deputy public prosecutor, the group played “ninny” tricks, but the law delivered a culture‑shock.