www.shaproperty.com

THERE'S a strange phenomenon affecting one particular block of flats in Circuit Road.

Mr Teo Chai Mong at a neighbour's flat where the louvres have gone missing. He filed a police report as he was afraid more flats would be hit.

Aluminium louvres from over 40 flats have been stolen over the past two weeks from Block 37 at Circuit Road.

The thieves would steal the panels, each about 1m by 20cm, from unoccupied flats in the block during the night.

They also targeted three-room flats located right beside the stairwell or a lift, so they can make a quick getaway without being seen.

Residents are getting fed-up.

Said Mr Teo Chai Mong, 66, in Mandarin through a translator: 'They come late at night to unscrew the panels from empty flats.'

DECENT RESALE VALUE

Mr Teo, whose two-room flat on the eighth floor is unaffected, said the thieves struck over the past two weeks.

Worried about the situation, the retiree, who has been living there for nine years, filed a police report yesterday.

'I know I'm not affected but I don't want the situation to get worse. That's why I called the police.'

Most of the windows shown in this picture of Block 37 are missing their louvres. --Pics/GAVIN FOO

Why steal these aluminium panels?

Contractor Lim Seng Chuan said: 'There is a decent resale value for these louvres - about $3 per kg. Each panel weighs about 500g and can fetch about $1.50'.

Each flat typically has 20 such panels installed. That means thieves can make about $30 from panels from one flat alone.

There might be other reasons why thieves have been so active lately - the price of aluminium has gone up in the past two months, said interior designer Muhd Zahid.

Said the 27-year-old: 'We have not increased our costs yet, but suppliers have told us that they are paying more for aluminium per kg.'

He couldn't give the exact price increase.

He said: 'Aluminium is valuable as it can last a long time and doesn't rust. These thieves are probably selling it as scrap like those people collecting and selling aluminium drink cans.'

Said another resident Johnny Tan, 52: 'The Government just upgraded and changed the panels for all the flats in the building earlier this year. That's probably why the thieves are after them - as they are new.'

Added Mr Tan, who stays on the seventh floor: 'It's not just panels they are after. Last week, the CashCard from my lorry was also stolen. I also take my shoes in at night - as they may get stolen as well.'