Break-Ins Clementi Bukit Merah: Residents Demand Faster Police Response

Residents across Clementi and Bukit Merah are taking matters into their own hands, installing additional CCTV cameras and forming neighbourhood watch groups after a series of break-ins and petty thefts left many feeling abandoned by emergency services.

Over the past four months, at least 47 reported incidents of housebreaking have occurred in the two constituencies, according to data released by the Singapore Police Force. Yet community members say response times have stretched beyond acceptable limits, with some residents waiting more than 90 minutes for officers to arrive at crime scenes.

"I called 999 at 11.15pm when I heard someone breaking into my flat in Block 123, Clementi Avenue 4," said one resident who requested anonymity. "Police arrived at 12.50am. By then, the person was long gone." The theft resulted in losses exceeding $2,800 in electronics and jewellery.

At a community dialogue held at Clementi Community Club last week, more than 200 residents attended, with many expressing concern about inadequate street lighting along Clementi Road and the lack of visible police patrols near the Clementi Market area. Several mentioned feeling vulnerable, particularly in the early morning hours before dawn.

Bukit Merah residents have similarly raised alarms. Traffic congestion along Bukit Merah View has made it harder for police vehicles to respond swiftly, residents claim. "The roads are clogged with delivery vehicles during the day, and at night, it's dark and difficult to navigate," said one Bukit Merah block resident.

The Singapore Police Force acknowledged the concerns in a written response, noting that response times depend on officer availability and distance from the nearest police post. A spokesperson stated that the Central Police Division has increased night patrols in both areas since late May, and that residents can enhance safety through simple measures like reinforced door locks and motion-sensor lights.

Local Members of Parliament have also intervened, with Clementi MP calling for an additional police post to be established nearer to the residential zones. "The community has legitimate concerns, and we are working with police leadership to explore feasible solutions," the MP said in a statement.

Meanwhile, residents continue organizing. The Clementi Residents Safety Initiative, a grassroots group formed in May, now has over 500 members who share real-time alerts about suspicious activities via WhatsApp. Similar groups are emerging in Bukit Merah.

"We respect the police, but we can't wait for them alone," said one block leader from Bukit Merah. "Our community must be proactive about our own safety."

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