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A man who decided to burgle homes on his first visit to Singapore after finding the country “rich” was sentenced to three years and eight months’ jail on Friday.
Huang Xiaozong broke into a suite at the Capella Singapore and two houses in Serangoon, stealing more than S$100,000 (US$78,000) worth of valuables.
The 41-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of housebreaking, with one count of trespass taken into consideration for sentencing.
The Chinese national visited Singapore for the first time on December 5, 2025, and stayed at a hotel in Little India.
He “had thoughts of stealing things” to earn money and “noticed that Singapore is very nice and rich”, according to court documents.

Huang targeted homes in wealthier parts of Singapore that appeared unoccupied, intending to break in and steal valuables.
The next day, Huang went to Sentosa and walked around the island.
During the day, he came across a suite at The Knolls at Capella Singapore. The lights were off and he observed that no one was inside.
The suite was occupied from time to time by a person who was overseas when Huang broke in.
Huang forced open a sliding door at the rear balcony to enter. Once inside, he searched for valuables, finding jewellery in a glass display cabinet in the living room and other items in a wardrobe in the master bedroom.
He stole items with an estimated total value of S$58,000, including a Chanel watch, five rings and a gold necklace.
The theft was discovered on December 8, 2025. A housekeeper saw footprints on the floor, that the sofa had been moved and that the glass cabinet was empty.
Court documents also detailed a separate break-in involving a home in Serangoon.
At about 8pm on December 7, 2025, Huang climbed over a metal gate to enter the house, which was in total darkness and appeared to be unoccupied.
He found jewellery from a make-up table in a bedroom and stole items worth around S$47,750, including two Tiffany & Co wedding rings, diamond earrings and gold necklaces.
The owner of the items returned home at about 8.40pm and found her dressing table in a mess and some items missing. Her husband called the police.
Huang then trespassed into another house by climbing over a metal gate. This time, however, he was spotted by a domestic helper who asked what he was doing there.
He responded in Mandarin, which she did not understand. He then climbed back over the gate and left.
Huang subsequently returned to his hotel in Little India before moving to Harbour Ville Hotel at Kampong Bahru Road on December 8.
Police traced him to the hotel and arrested him that evening.
Items linked to the offences, with an estimated combined value of S$105,750 were found in his possession and seized.
The prosecution sought 45 to 49 months’ jail, while the defence urged the court to jail Huang for 30 months.
Deputy public prosecutor Yohanes Ng said Huang had specifically scouted for residential properties that he believed were unoccupied and could be burgled. He also described the offending as transnational in nature, noting that Huang committed his first offence just a day after arriving in Singapore.
Lawyer Don Tan described his client’s offences as “amateurish” and distinguished Huang’s case from those involving offenders who travelled to Singapore with the intention of committing housebreaking.
He also pointed out that the losses were minimal as the stolen items had been recovered.
For housebreaking, Huang could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
This story was first published by CNA


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The man stole over US$78,000 in jewellery from a Capella hotel suite, Sentosa and Serangoon properties a day after arriving on holiday


The man stole over US$78,000 in jewellery from a Capella hotel suite, Sentosa and Serangoon properties a day after arriving on holiday.


Chanel

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Chinese overseas

Chinese national jailed in Singapore for burgling luxury homes on first visit

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The man stole over US$78,000 in jewellery from a Capella hotel suite, Sentosa and Serangoon properties a day after arriving on holiday

The man stole over US$78,000 in jewellery from a Capella hotel suite, Sentosa and Serangoon properties a day after arriving on holiday