Who Needs a School Bus When You Can Use a Mini‑Mart?
Short story: A tiny shop on Yishun Ring Road decided that the best way to stop shoplifters was to send them an unsolicited kindergarten‑grade lesson.
The Notice That Shines a Light on Day‑Care At Midnight
- Two adults (one man, one woman) and a five‑year‑old were spotted raking through the aisles at 1–2 am, smiling as if it were a secret holiday plan.
- Instead of a plain “stop stealing” sign, the mini‑mart got creative: “Please don’t bring your kids to the shop when you’re planning to steal. We don’t want your children learning the wrong lessons.”
- Red text added a gentle warning: “Don’t be like the couple in the pictures below.”
Those pictures showed a couple looking like they’d just popped out of a sitcom, with a toddler peeking behind them like the unofficial “shoplifting sidekick.”
Mini‑Mart’s Complaint Sheet “Initials 30, 30”
The store’s spokesperson tried to paint a quick picture: “We’ve seen these folks a lot. The lady’s been doing the whole ‘cloak‑and‑dare’ act for a while, usually with the little ones in tow. And every now and then, a random guy joins the crew.”
“We’re open 24/7, but the corner of the shop is usually guarded by just one staff member between midnight and dawn. That’s how they get the advantage,” the spokesperson said.
Third‑Party Observation: Where The Household Goods Feast Begins
In a classic “CCTV drama” scene, the man would chat with the cashier while the woman, in the meantime, snatched a bottle of laundry detergent, slid it to a grassy patch outside the shop, and then left after soaking in an instant‑noodle feast. A few minutes later they whispered “back!” and, with a stealthy swagger, reclaimed the detergent—always caught on video.
The trio’s go‑to kit usually consisted of household items, which is a pity because it seems children’s imagination is less imaginative than adults’ “thief” fantasies.
Why the Kids? The Million‑Dollar Question
“That kid is around five. She’s old enough to notice she’s been sit‑cucked in a crime story. If we don’t intervene, we risk turning her into a mini‑mart barista of the future,” the spokesperson calmly replied, as if rehearsing for a future talk show.
When the 222‑Calls Go Out No Answer
- The notice supplied a phone number; the catch is that we’d have to dial it to pull down the poster.
- Essentially, the shop wants the perpetrators to:
- Stop sneaking kids into the shop.
- Pay for what they stole.
- They hinted that if you’re financially strapped, we’re open to a friendly chat—you might even see the store enter the “no‑action” zone.
And that’s what the mini‑mart hopes to keep from driving its little shoppers into a lifetime of crime: a well‑timed, zesty reminder that grocery stores are not a kid’s playground for escapade.
