The brazen vandals who openly challenged the police to catch them for defacing the walls on the 1st, 3rd and 4th floor of the multi-storey carpark at 361 Sembawang Crescent with graffiti have turned out to be teenagers.

The two teenage culprits, both aged 17, were arrested by the police officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division this Tuesday (2 April) and are reportedly assisting in investigations.

The vandals drew attention after photos and videos showing the extent of their graffiti began circulating online:

Vandals strike at Sembawang carpark

Brazen vandals strike at Sembawang carpark, openly taunting police: "Come and catch us. Good luck!"Vandals sprayed graffiti on the walls of a multi-story carpark at Block 361 Sembawang Crescent, with at least 10 different messages taunting the police. It was on the 1st, 3rd and 4th floor walls. There were no vehicles affected in this carpark.The writings on the wall also looked to be distinct, and it is believed that the vandalism was done by more than one person. Police was alerted to a case of mischief at the said location at 11.44pm on March 17.Act of vandalism, attempt to do any such act or cause any such act to be done. Upon conviction, the penalty is a fine not exceeding S$2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years, and also the corporal punishment of not less than three strokes and not more than eight strokes of the cane.

Posted by ROADS.sg on Wednesday, 21 March 2018

One resident, 48-year-old car dealership owner Mr Hu, told the Chinese daily at the time that he was shocked to see that almost the entire carpark had been defaced with graffiti depicting patterns and words such as “painful,” “sad,” “remorse,” “love me, don’t go.” “This is “Art” and such.

The vandals had even spray-painted “Catch me if u can,”  “Catch us, I wish you good luck!” and “Come and catch us” seemingly to provoke the police.

Contractors reportedly took several days to repaint the vandalised walls. Sembawang Town Council also announced that it would be installing surveillance cameras at all the levels of the carpark “to deter similar acts of mischief”.

Those convicted for acts of vandalism may face a maximum fine of S$2,000, imprisonment not exceeding three years, and/or 3-8 strokes of the cane.

https://theindependent.sg.sg/come-and-catch-us-brazen-vandals-who-graffiti-sembawang-carpark-openly-taunt-the-police/