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Netizens back Punggol residents’ actions against troubling teenagers, criticize police inaction
Residents in Punggol, frustrated by months of harassment from teenagers, took matters into their own hands, leading to a confrontation. Netizens defended the residents’ actions, criticizing the police for perceived inaction and calling for accountability for the teenagers’ behavior.
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SINGAPORE: Several frustrated residents in Punggol have taken matters into their own hands after months of alleged harassment by a group of teenagers in their neighborhood.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the situation escalated last Tuesday (13 Aug) when residents confronted one of the boys near the playground under Block 226A Sumang Lane.
A female resident recounted a disturbing encounter with the teenagers on 10 August.
She was in a lift with four boys when they kicked the lift doors before they fully closed, causing a loud noise that frightened her.
The lift then unexpectedly opened on the third floor, prompting her to quickly exit in fear. She expressed relief that she was not trapped inside and that her young children were not with her at the time.
The incident left the woman’s husband angry, but they chose not to call the police, deciding instead to confront the teenagers directly.
On Tuesday evening, the woman’s husband spotted one of the boys involved in the previous incident.
When he approached the boy, the teen ran away, fell, and scraped his knees.
The husband reportedly chased after him, grabbing his clothes to prevent him from escaping.
This confrontation led to a heated dispute when the teenagers’ parents arrived at Sumang Lane.
The neighbourhood committee intervened and called the police.
When a reporter arrived at the scene, one of the boys was seen sitting on a stretcher with a bandaged right knee.
Several residents claimed that the group of teenagers had been causing trouble in the neighbourhood for more than six months, with some of them not even living in the estate.
In July, the teenagers reportedly played football, rode scooters, and broke into the top floor of a Punggol car park.
The police confirmed they were alerted to the alleged dispute at Block 226A Sumang Lane at around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
They reported that a 12-year-old boy sustained minor injuries but did not require medical attention.
A 44-year-old man is currently assisting with investigations for criminal force against a person under 14.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Netizens defend man’s actions
Many netizens have voiced their opinions on Reddit regarding the recent incident in the estate under the Punggol West SMC, where a group of teenagers has been causing disturbances.
Numerous users defended the actions of the 44-year-old man involved, arguing that the teenagers needed to face consequences for their behavior.
Some Punggol residents expressed frustration, sharing that they had previously complained to the police about the teenagers but felt that no action was taken.
One resident recounted an incident where a teenager attempted to spit on their father’s head from the second floor and another where a resident nearly got burned by a sparkler thrown from above.
They lamented that despite repeated complaints, the police seemed to dismiss the issue, citing the teenagers’ young age as a reason for leniency.
Another user expressed scepticism about relying on the police to address such issues.
They expressed relief that the residents took matters into their own hands, given the lack of effective intervention from law enforcement.
Calls for accountability
Some Redditors argued that teenagers should face legal consequences proportional to their actions.
One user stated that even young people should face law enforcement, depending on the severity of their crimes, and warned that unchecked behaviour could lead to more serious issues as they grow older.
Others suggested that parents should face penalties if their children are not held accountable, proposing fines for parents as a means of encouraging better supervision.
Frustration grows over perceived inaction by authorities
Many Reddit users have questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement in handling the situation in Punggol.
Some expressed frustration over the lack of action, despite complaints about the teenagers’ behaviour.
One user criticized the authorities for their perceived leniency, wondering why heavier penalties, such as fines or caning, were not imposed.
They argued that the lack of enforcement has allowed such behaviour to persist, forcing citizens to take matters into their own hands.
Another user acknowledged that while the 44-year-old man’s actions were not ideal, they were a result of months of unaddressed complaints.
They suggested that without this confrontation, the harassment by the teenagers would likely have continued.
The irony of the inaction is striking, given that the SMC is headed by Ms Sun Xueling, who has been the Minister of State for Home Affairs since 2022.
Lack of playgrounds blamed for teenagers’ misbehaviour
One netizen argued that the teenagers’ actions might stem from a lack of recreational spaces, such as playgrounds.
They pointed out that today’s children are often deprived of opportunities to play and socialize, with facilities like basketball courts being locked even during daylight hours.
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Likely some of the teenagers’ parents are connected to some pappies. Shamni tells police must be “lenient” dealing with the case, hor.
What school do these teenagers enroll in? Every school is a…good school, after all.
“Gangster” schools are not a new thing.
The BIG QUESTION ACTUALLY many many people FAILED to see CLEARLY – why are teenagers energised in all of these activities? This is ONE?
2ndly, the PAP Administration CANNOT AND do NOT bother to FOCUS on harnessing these teenagers for better activities relate to BUILD up MORE PRODUCTIVE ventures for themselves, families, and state?
Aren’t the Govt Services for people of SG DIRECT towards these teenagers to BETTER UTLISE their time?
More open spaces shd be opened for kids to just bounce around or run around boisteriously…instead of stealing half of kids playground to widen it for paking spaces..( my hdb area ) ..i really feel sad for children these days..like prisoners …parents shd encourage their kids to go out and play..
But where????sad.
, …… no police report from within meh, as is usually the case involving dissidents and critics of the regime, … with the full force of the police and their squadron in attendance, .. with search and seizure warrants, along with a demand to attend for a police interview !!!
The police, much like all the ministers, … exists to serve the regime and themselves respectively, and contrary to the notion that they serve the people of SillyPore !!!
“… the police seemed to dismiss the issue, citing the teenagers’ young age as a reason for leniency...” —————– Recall the case where 5 police officers went to a school to arrest a 14YO boy in front of his teachers and schoolmates. Why no leniency, or even common sense, then? Shanmi incompetency is showing now without the protection of his ex-Kayu Boss, hor. 1) In 14YO case, he defended the actions of the 5 officers for using Gestapo-like tactics on a boy, who was only SUSPECTED on doing something to a girl. 2) Now will he defend the police for… Read more »
Sooner or later, there will be organised crime gang under 14.
At age of early teenage they are already capable to robbery, stealing, murder or rape.
Leniency to young people? Technologies bring the young people’s knowledge 10 years earlier, including crimes.
Young teens crime problems will grow exponentially.
Why beside fighting for cost of living, cost of housing, cost of child bearing, we also have to fight crime?
S1
No ice-cream from the PAP so youngsters are misbehaving. Where are the parents? Best to speak to them first. Where are the police officers who went after 14year old Benjamin Lim? Here there is a bunch of misbehaving youngsters. Why no show?
Oops. Public Education. Public Education. Where ah?
Open The Ponggol SAFRA lah. Allow them to let go some steam during weekdays in the afternoon 2 to 3 hours.
Make it Free. At least they got place to enjoy.
As with the Little India riot, Shanmi will say: Police was aware of the situation and plans were being implemented to address the issue, but unfortunately the riot took place before the plans could be carried out. Nice language for being bo-chap and sleeping on the job, hor.
I had devised a way to strike the lottery big-big, but unfortunately the lottery happened before I could implement my scheme. Please sympathize for me.
Fantasy Island is overcrowded.
3.5M citizens but the government wants GDP that can only be produced by 9.9M population.
You may be able to house 10M people with high-rise flats, but you can’t escape the negative effects from high density of population.
City states are doomed to fail unless they can merge with or conquer their neighbours.
Why was the police to be blamed? Does this blame not fall squarely on each of the kids parents? The kids are still UNDER 21, THE PARENTS HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR KIDS BEHAVIOR, do they not? So I ask again. What the fuck has this got to do with the police and why dis the police EVEN ENTERTAIN SUCH FOLKS? IF THESE FOLKS HAVE PROLEMS WITH THESE KIDS WHO ARE IN THE SAME RESIDENCE AS THEM THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO THROW MONEY TO LAWYERS AND TAKE OUT A PRIVATE SUMMONS ON THOSE PARENTS… Read more »