SINGAPORE: In response to a TikTok video about how pickpocketers are rare in Singapore, many took to the comments section to share anecdotes of issues like theft in Singapore. Though some said that this level of safety and security was a shock to them, others urged people not to be complacent, with some arguing, “Low crime doesn’t mean no crime.”
“POV: When everyone is fighting against pickpockets for their European summer but you went to Singapore instead where pickpockets don’t even exist.” This was the heading of a recently published video, which has already garnered over 100,000 on TikTok.
The eight-second clip featured a man sitting on a flight of steps. In the video, he gently shoves his phone aside, feigning a sense of security and trust that no one would try to steal it. “Welcome to Singapore,” the caption read, “The safest place on earth where I’m more scared of ghosts than being pickpocketed.”
@mikkkowen welcome to singapore the safest place on earth where im more scared of ghosts than being pickpocketed #europeansummer #fypシ #tiktoksg #xzyabc #singapore #pickpocket
Many online users took to the post’s comments section to share anecdotes revolving around the same subject matter.
“I, as a Singaporean, (am) probably scared to even touch. Wait fingerprint la kena accused of theft,” said one.
“Same I see money on the floor, scared to pick up too,” replied another.
Others shared experiences. “So true, I lost my wallet in the MRT before and somebody returned the whole thing but my $50 cash was gone,” one commenter shared. “Was just happy I got my IC.”
“My kid just left his iPad in the loo today in the mall,” shared another. “I thought it was lost (but) someone sent it to lost&found.”
However, some reported having experienced theft. “I lived in London for years and was never robbed. Instead, I was robbed in Singapore at Paragon!” said one.
“Nah. My father left his phone in the toilet (a PWD cubicle) and (it) was never returned,” shared another. “In a brief five minutes only.”
“Don’t push your luck, sir,” warned one commenter. “Low crime does not mean no crime.
However, other commenters pushed through by sharing their positive experiences.
“Coming from New York City, I left my laptop in a busy hawker centre and was sure it would be gone,” said one netizen. “Came back 2 hours later still untouched on the same table.”
“This happened to one of my Indo friends too!” shared another. “She left her laptop bag in a hawker centre and went back, it was still there.”
“Left my wallet at the hawker table,” wrote yet another online user. “Came back two hours later and it wasn’t moved a bit. They thought I was marking the table.”
What’s your take on this matter?
In other news, TikToker Uptin said in a viral video: “This country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.”
He left his open laptop at a “random Starbucks” for an hour without asking anyone to keep an eye on it. And sure enough, when he returned from having lunch at a nearby mall, it was still there.