Chinese tourist allegedly chases man for 2 blocks after Gucci bag with $8,000 cash snatched at Circular Road

A Chinese tourist allegedly chased after a man for two streets after he snatched her Gucci handbag containing $8,000 in cash at Circular Road on Aug 30.

The 38-year-old woman, surnamed Wan, had arrived in Singapore on Aug 29 and was staying at Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, reported Shin Min Daily News.

According to the report, Wan had been shopping near People's Park Complex at around 6.30pm on Aug 30 when a middle-aged man approached her.

The man spoke fluent Mandarin and told Wan that he was from Taiwan and had lived in Singapore for some time.

Wan told Shin Min that she was looking to exchange money at a bank and was also unhappy with her hotel stay.

The man allegedly offered to help her with both matters.

Wan subsequently returned to her hotel to collect her belongings before meeting the man again at around 7.30pm.

He then brought her to what appeared to be a mobile phone shop, which he claimed belonged to a friend.

According to Wan, she exchanged 44,000 yuan for $8,000 there.

Man allegedly snatched bag and ran

The man then purportedly told Wan that he would take her to Boat Quay before bringing her to Marina Bay Sands.

Wan said he told her the destinations were nearby, but they ended up walking for a long time.

She suggested taking a ride instead, but the man allegedly said he knew a shortcut and that they would arrive within 10 minutes.

"That was when I got suspicious," the tourist recounted to the Chinese evening daily .

She said the man had deliberately taken her on a detour, resulting in her walking for more than an hour and becoming exhausted.

When they reached Circular Road, Wan said she told the man that she did not want to continue walking.

He allegedly suggested going to a nearby bar, but Wan refused. He then snatched her Gucci handbag and ran away.

Wan gave chase while shouting for help, pursuing him for about two blocks.

She told Shin Min that the handbag was worth more than $5,000 and contained the $8,000 in cash she had exchanged earlier.

A male passer-by reportedly heard her cries for help and intervened.

Another man who witnessed the incident also joined the chase, and the two men eventually caught up with the suspect.

Wan said members of the public helped keep an eye on the man while others called the police.

In response to queries from AsiaOne, the police said they received a call for assistance at 1 Circular Road at around 9.05pm on Aug 30.

A 45-year-old man was subsequently arrested for theft. Police investigations are ongoing.

According to Wan, the man allegedly told police officers that he was her friend and that the handbag-snatching was merely a prank.

Wan said she found the explanation absurd, given how far she had chased him.

She added that she had travelled overseas alone on previous occasions without encountering such an incident and had therefore let her guard down.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

据称，8月30日，一名中国女游客在环路被一名男子抢走装有8000美元现金的Gucci手提包后，追赶了该男子两条街。

据《新明日报》报道，这名38岁的女子姓万，于8月29日抵达新加坡，入住新加坡城中美居酒店。

据报道，8月30日下午6点30分左右，万女士在人民公园大厦附近购物时，一名中年男子接近了她。

该男子能说一口流利的普通话，并告诉万，他来自台湾，已经在新加坡生活了一段时间。

Wan告诉《新明日报》，她想去银行兑换货币，而且对酒店住宿也不满意。

据称，该男子主动提出帮助她处理这两件事。

随后，Wan返回酒店取回自己的物品，并在晚上7点30分左右再次与该男子见面。

然后他带她去了一家看起来像是手机店的地方，并声称这家店是他朋友的。

据万女士称，她在那里用4.4万元人民币兑换了8000美元。

据称，一名男子抢走一个包后逃跑。

据称，该男子随后告诉 Wan，他会先带她去驳船码头，然后再带她去滨海湾金沙酒店。

万说他告诉她目的地就在附近，但他们最后走了很久。

她建议搭车，但据称该男子说他知道一条近路，10分钟内就能到达。

“那时我就开始怀疑了，”这位游客向中国晚报讲述道。

她说，那名男子故意带她绕路，导致她走了超过一个小时，筋疲力尽。

当他们到达环路时，万说她告诉那名男子她不想继续走了。

据称他提议去附近一家酒吧，但遭到万的拒绝。随后他抢走了她的古驰手提包并逃跑了。

万一边追赶一边呼救，追了大约两个街区。

她告诉《新明日报》，这个手提包价值超过5000美元，里面装着她之前兑换的8000美元现金。

据报道，一名路过的男性听到她的呼救声后上前帮忙。

另一名目击事件的男子也加入了追捕，两人最终追上了嫌疑人。

万先生表示，一些市民帮忙留意这名男子，另一些市民则报警。

针对 AsiaOne 的询问，警方表示，他们于 8 月 30 日晚上 9 点 05 分左右接到 1 Circular Road 的求助电话。

一名45岁男子随后因盗窃罪被捕。警方调查仍在进行中。

据万女士称，该男子告诉警方，他是万女士的朋友，抢夺手提包只是个恶作剧。

万说，考虑到她追了他那么远，她觉得这个解释很荒谬。

她补充说，她以前也曾独自出国旅行，但没有遇到过这样的事件，因此放松了警惕。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com