Police still on the hunt for pink turban-wearing man who threatened to blow up pawnshop in failed robbery

The hunt continues for the man who failed to rob a pawnshop outside Boon Lay MRT station on Saturday, fleeing the scene after tossing a device that he claimed to be a bomb into the shop.

Police are now appealing for any information that could assist in the search for the robber, last spotted in a blue jacket, long brown pants, and sporting a pink turban.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man entered the ValueMax pawnshop at about 4:30pm and started threatening shop staff with a knife and a gun, which is believed to be a replica. When the staff refused his demands to turn over cash and jewelry, the man allegedly told them he would blow up the pawnshop, holding up an object that he claimed to be an explosive device.

He threw the gadget on the counter and fled empty-handed. The object was immediately thrown out of the pawnshop and the police were called in. After cordoning off the vicinity to the public (Exit ‘C’ of Boon Lay MRT station was closed temporarily), officers later determined that the “bomb” only contained some electrical components.

“The Police have classified the case under Section 4(A) of the Arms Offences Act,” Singapore Police Force wrote in a Facebook post.

“Anyone found guilty of using or attempting to use any arm at the time of his committing or attempting to commit any scheduled offence shall, whether or not he has any intention to cause physical injury to any person or property, be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with death.”

‘Quite comical’

As serious as the police made it sound, the whole incident was described as “quite comical” by the counter employee who faced down the robber.

TODAY found out from ValueMax’s executive director Yeah Lee Ching that the robber appeared to be a nervous wreck after his demands were refused. “He was very, very nervous, so he just fled (empty-handed),” Yeah informed TODAY.

In fact, the staff member even tried to chase down the robber but didn’t manage to find him. The failed robbery was so unimpressive that the staff member resumed work the next day, and was even surprised that the cops cordoned off the entire area.