Four Colombians jailed 12 months each for housebreaking
(From top left, clockwise) Gonzalez Gonzalez Alvaro, Ordonez Saenz Andres, Sandoval Rivera Edgar Alberto and Puentes Entralgo Yuli Caterine had planned a six-day heist and looked for tools and a getaway car soon after landing here. Photos: Singapore Police Force
SINGAPORE — They came to Singapore with the sole purpose of committing burglary, buying tools such as a crowbar and renting a getaway car almost immediately after touching down.
Eyeing landed properties, the foursome from Colombia knew that cruising for targets in a luxury car would ensure they did not attract too much attention, so they booked a Mercedes Benz. But their planned six-day heist ended in disappointment.
Of three houses they broke into, they left empty-handed twice.
When they were nabbed, their loot consisted of a gemstone of unknown value, a Pryngeps watch, two Seiko watches and S$2,000 in cash.
On Tuesday (Aug 22), they were each sentenced to 12 months’ jail for one count of housebreaking at night. The two other burglaries — which were committed in the day — were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The punishment is heavier for housebreaking committed at night.
A district court was told that Gonzalez Gonzalez Alvaro, 32, came to Singapore on May 2 with his wife Puentes Entralgo Yuli Caterine, and two friends Ordonez Saenz Andres and Sandoval Rivera Edgar Alberto.
Upon arrival, Yuli, 27, rented a Benz from May 3 to May 8. They also bought various tools to force their way into homes.
On their third day here, the group broke into a bungalow at Chancery Lane between 3.15pm and 6.10pm. It was to be the only time they pocketed any loot.
Two days later, they set their sights on a bungalow at Muswell Hill, Braddell Heights Estate. The owner and his family had left at about 4pm after locking all the doors and windows.
Sometime after 7pm Gonzalez drove the rented car to the estate and dropped his three accomplices off along Muswell Hill.
He waited in the car while the rest scaled a wall into the compound and used a crowbar to pry open a sliding door beside the main door.
They ransacked the place in search of valuable items but found nothing. Soon they spotted closed-circuit television cameras in the house. Afraid of being caught, they fled — not knowing they had been captured on tape.
At about 10pm the owner retuned home and discovered the break-in.
Noticing that a drawer in the living room and a laundry basket had been ransacked, he filed a police report.
Undeterred, the group broke into a semi-detached house at Jalan Eunos the following day but left empty-handed again.
Later that day the police swooped in on them at Tampines Central after they had bought coach tickets to Kuala Lumpur.
On Tuesday, Yuli pleaded for leniency, saying through a Spanish translator: “I don’t feel well, I tried to kill myself in jail. They took me to a mental hospital.”
Her husband Gonzalez said he was only in charge of driving and never entered the houses. Sandoval, 45, and Ordonez, 41, said they were repentant.
Occupations for the four Colombians were not given in court documents. In sentencing, District Judge Kessler Soh lectured the group: “I note that this is the first time you’re committing a crime in Singapore, I hope this will be your last time as well ... in Singapore and anywhere else.
He added: “Some of you have children. You need to be a good example for your children.”
For housebreaking by night, they could have been jailed up to three years and fined. For housebreaking, the maximum penalty is two years’ jail and a fine.
