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A Colombian who had heard from an acquaintance how easy it was to make “good money” through housebreaking in Singapore, broke in 16 homes on his two trips here and stole nearly $650,000 in cash and valuables.

According to a report in The Straits Times, Foranda Arias Fredy, 43, then packed his bags and flew in on July 12 last year with another Colombian, known to him only as Maurisio. Both were coming here to steal.

In a district court yesterday (March 25), Fredy was jailed a total of 91/2 years, after pleading guilty to breaking into 16 homes on his two trips here and stealing nearly $650,000 in cash and valuables.

The court heard that Fredy and Maurisio met two other Colombians who were identified only as Fatty and Skinny at an apartment in Orchard Towers. The other duo were also here to commit crimes.

They ganged up and would scour landed properties in Bukit Timah, Simei and Bishan to look for houses without occupants.

Fredy would first ring the door bell to make sure no one was home before the group climbed over the gate. He would then break into the rear of the house by forcing open a window or a door, stealing any cash and valuables he could find, while the others acted as lookouts.

On two instances, he even dragged a safe out of the house.

In August, Fredy returned to Colombia but flew in again on Oct 14. Afraid that the police might be onto him, he used a passport bearing the name of Morales Poz Pedro. He then teamed up with Lia Torres Cardona, 36, and Monica Yasmin Tabares Hernandez, 35, to break into three homes.

On Oct 23, the trio got away with $361,500 of watches and jewellery from a house in University Road near Dunearn Road. However, they were arrested and charged in court on Nov 1.

DPP Vaswani told the court that Fredy spent most of the money on personal expenses and on Colombian prostitutes here. Cardona was jailed 21/2 years last December. Hernandez is awaiting her day in court, while Fredy’s other accomplices are at large.

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