At the start of 2026, Yu Haibo planned to travel to several countries to steal cash from unattended bags, recruiting Zhang Wei, who brought in Ren Fubin and Sui Haibo to form a four-member syndicate [1, 2, 3, 4]. The group traveled to Singapore in late March, moved to Malaysia around April 1, then returned to Singapore by April 12 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Between April 1 and April 14, they committed multiple thefts at busy public places in Singapore, targeting victims who left bags unattended [1, 2, 3, 4].
Ren Fubin and Sui Haibo worked together to steal belongings while Zhang Wei acted as lookout and Yu Haibo stayed in the hotel [1, 2, 3, 4]. On April 13, Sui Haibo stole a Christian Dior handbag at VivoCity from a man who placed his bag on a bench while on the phone [1, 2, 3, 4]. The bag contained 100 SGD in cash, keys, another purse, an NRIC, a plane ticket, and two Maxi Cab tickets [1, 2, 3, 4]. After removing the items, the group threw the bag into shrubs, where police later recovered it [2, 3, 4].
The gang agreed all stolen proceeds would go to Yu Haibo, who would deduct travel costs and split the remainder: 60% to Yu, 15% each to Ren and Sui, and 10% to Zhang [1, 2, 3, 4]. Yu instructed the others not to reveal his involvement if caught, so he could help them from outside [1, 2, 3, 4].
On June 15, Yu Haibo pleaded guilty to three theft charges and was sentenced to four months and two weeks’ jail [1, 2, 3, 4]. On the same day, Zhang Wei also pleaded guilty and received a two-month, six-week jail term [1, 2, 3, 4]. Sui Haibo pleaded guilty on June 16 and got the same sentence of two months and six weeks [2, 3, 4]. Ren Fubin is scheduled for sentencing on June 17 [1, 2, 3, 4].
District Judge Cheng Yuxi said, "This was not just a transnational offence, but a transnational syndicate involving four members." He added, "Those who come to Singapore for the sole purpose of committing crime will face the full brunt of the law, as they risk undermining the country’s way of life" [2].
