SINGAPORE – An Aetos auxiliary police officer has been arrested for his suspected involvement in an armed robbery with a firearm, the first such offence in 15 years.

The 38-year-old man allegedly robbed a unit in Jurong Gateway Road and fled with over $24,000 in cash at about 3.55pm on Monday (April 12) afternoon, the police said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that staff at the unit were shown a handwritten note that said: “This is a robbery, don’t shout. I got a gun in my pocket. Put all the money in the bag.”

The staff handled him the cash before he fled.

The suspect was allegedly carrying a firearm during the robbery but did not reveal it to the staff. He is believed to have acted alone, said the police in a statement.

Police added that the last armed robbery involving a firearm happened in 2006 at a 4-D outlet at Sun Plaza Shopping Centre.

Through extensive investigations, and aided by images from Police cameras and shop closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Intelligence Department and Clementi Police Division, with the help of Aetos staff, established the identity of the man, who was an on-duty Aetos auxiliary police officer.

He was arrested within five hours of the robbery.

The man had reported to work at Aetos headquarters in Corporation Drive prior to the commencement of his deployment on Monday and drawn his firearm. But he then changed out of his uniform and left the headquarters without authorisation.

After allegedly committing the offence, he returned to the headquarters, put on his uniform and rode in the company’s van to his deployment location.

Police said that investigations also showed that the man purportedly deposited part of the stolen cash in the bank account of his 34-year-old female friend.

She has been arrested for dishonestly receiving stolen property.

The man also transferred the stolen cash to a few bank accounts to repay his debt to unlicensed moneylenders.

The police have since arrested eight other individuals, aged between 16 and 48, in relation to the robbery.

About $17,500 of the cash has been recovered, with efforts to recover the rest under way, said police.

The man will be charged in court this afternoon with being in unlawful possession of arms or ammunition in the commission of a scheduled offence.

If convicted, he will face life imprisonment and not fewer than six strokes of the cane.

His female friend will also be charged the same day. If convicted, she will face imprisonment for up to five years, or a fine, or both.

Aetos said in a media statement that the man was an auxiliary police officer who performed general security. It added that the company is extending its fullest cooperation to the authorities in their investigation.

“Aetos has zero tolerance for any form of criminal conduct by any of its employees, especially the unlawful use of firearms. We impose stringent regulations, safeguards and a strict code of conduct on all auxiliary police officers to ensure that they are fit for duty and to carry firearms,” the company said.

CID director Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of Police How Kwang Hee said the armed robbery suspect had abused the firearm entrusted to him to carry out his duties.

“Police officers worked swiftly to secure his arrest, aided by images from police cameras and shop CCTVs. We managed to do so without harm being caused to the public, given the risk that the robber was allegedly carrying a firearm.

“The police will spare no effort to ensure that such criminals who endanger the public’s safety are dealt with firmly and severely in accordance with the law,” added SAC How.