Singaporean family’s car vandalized and looted in under an hour during JB trip

SINGAPORE: A routine shopping excursion turned into a nightmare for a Singaporean man and his family as they returned to their car in Johor Bahru’s Pandan market only to find one of its windows shattered on Tuesday (2 Apr).

The victim, Mr Rino, told The Straits Times that he parked his BMW 218i Gran Coupe in a sheltered carpark at the market after midnight. Upon returning approximately 50 minutes later, they were shocked to discover a significant hole above the driver’s side door.

The family found that a bag containing valuables, including a crane operating license, RM100 (S$28) in cash, a smartwatch, and a set of house keys, had been stolen. The bag had been placed under the driver’s seat.

Mr Rino estimated the cost of replacing the window at around $500. Expressing disappointment, he said that this was his first such experience in the 20 years he had been visiting Johor Bahru.

Despite the distressing incident, Mr Rino remains undeterred, planning future visits to Johor Bahru, including during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. He plans to drive to Johor again this weekend.

This incident adds to a growing trend of car break-ins in the Pandan district, less than 10km from the Johor Bahru checkpoint.

A similar incident was shared on social media on March 18, where another TikTok user recounted a break-in at the S’mart market, also resulting in a shattered car window.

With the Pandan market attracting both locals and Singaporean visitors, such incidents raise concerns about the security of vehicles in the area, particularly during peak periods like Ramadan, when bazaars are bustling with activity.