SINGAPORE, October 22, 2026 — Three foreign nationals have been sentenced to between six years and eight months and seven years and four months in prison after a planned series of burglaries targeting Singapore’s wealthy residential neighborhoods resulted in the theft of S$644,700 (approximately US$505,000) in valuables.
The case took a dramatic turn when an elderly resident confronted two of the intruders during a second break-in, pouring water onto the floor and causing one burglar to slip as he attempted to escape.
The men ultimately fled without taking anything from that property, but their movements soon caught up with them.
On Thursday, October 22, a Singapore court handed down prison sentences to the three men, who had pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including housebreaking, theft and concealment of criminal benefits.
Three Foreign Nationals Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences
The convicted men were identified as:
- Hernando Giraldo Franco, 62, a Spanish-Colombian national, sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.
- Garcia Iglesias Hector Daniel, 53, a Mexican national, sentenced to seven years and four months.
- Garces Murillo Mateo Andres, 49, a Mexican-Colombian national, also sentenced to seven years and four months.
According to court proceedings reported by Channel NewsAsia, the three men were friends who had arrived in Singapore for the first time in April or May 2025.
Rather than simply exploring the city, they developed a plan to target private landed homes, particularly residences that appeared unoccupied at night.
The group obtained burglary tools, disguises and transportation before scouting neighborhoods for potential targets.
First Burglary: S$644,700 in Valuables Stolen From Dunearn Close
The first successful break-in occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. on May 9, 2025, at a landed property along Dunearn Close.
Prosecutors said Hernando remained in a rented car, acting as the lookout and getaway driver, while Garcia and Garces climbed over a wall and entered the property through a window.
Inside, the pair searched the master bedroom and gathered valuable possessions.
The stolen property included luxury watches, diamond rings, earrings, jewelry, gold coins and cash.
The total value of the stolen items was approximately S$644,700.
After leaving the property, the two intruders returned to their accomplice’s vehicle, and the group traveled back to their hotel.
Second Burglary: Elderly Resident Turns the Tables on Intruders
On May 10, the group targeted another landed property, this time along Eng Neo Avenue.
The two intruders initially retreated after hearing activity inside the compound. They later returned and entered the residence through an open ground-floor sliding door.
On the second floor, they attempted to force open a safe using a screwdriver but were unsuccessful.
At approximately 10 p.m., an elderly man living at the property spotted Garces near the staircase and shouted.
Garces immediately alerted Garcia, who rushed out of the dressing room.
In a dramatic attempt to stop the fleeing burglar, the elderly resident poured water from a kettle onto the floor.
Garcia slipped and fell, although he eventually managed to escape.
The burglars left the property empty-handed.
While the confrontation did not result in their immediate capture, it became one of the most striking details of the case.
Arrested Within Days as Police Recover Stolen Property
After fleeing the Eng Neo Avenue residence, the suspects discarded a screwdriver and clothing used during the burglary in a wooded area.
The three men were arrested on May 11, 2025, near their hotel.
Police recovered stolen property, including cash and handbags, and the subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of all items taken during the first burglary.
The arrests brought an end to the group’s planned series of residential break-ins.
Court: Planning and Damage Made the Crime Particularly Serious
During sentencing, prosecutors emphasized the considerable value of the stolen property, the damage caused during the burglaries and the advance preparation involved.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Leong Kit Yu requested prison terms ranging from nine to 12 years, depending on each accused person’s role.
However, District Judge Ong Luan Tze imposed shorter sentences after considering the case and the submissions from both sides.
The judge described the nighttime residential burglaries as especially serious and highlighted the substantial ransacking and damage.
She also rejected the argument that Hernando should receive significantly less blame simply because he remained outside the houses.
As the getaway driver and lookout, he played an essential role in executing the plan.
The court also found that the recovery of the stolen property did not substantially reduce the trio’s responsibility for the offenses.
Bigger Picture: Foreign Burglary Cases Raise Questions About Residential Security
The latest convictions add to concerns over criminals who travel to Singapore specifically to target valuable possessions in private homes.
In May 2026, three other foreign nationals were sentenced to more than five years in prison for involvement in a separate housebreaking operation targeting landed properties.
That case involved individuals who reportedly identified Singapore as a potentially lucrative destination after seeing social media content highlighting the country’s wealth.
In August 2026, another foreign offender was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after stealing more than S$100,000 in valuables from properties in Sentosa and Serangoon.
These separate prosecutions illustrate how residential burglaries can involve advance surveillance, carefully selected properties and suspects who intend to leave the country with stolen goods.
They do not, however, establish that the different groups belonged to the same criminal network.
For residents, the cases highlight the importance of physical security, surveillance cameras, neighborhood vigilance and promptly reporting suspicious activity.
A Costly Crime That Ended With Years Behind Bars
What began as a plan to steal valuable possessions from seemingly empty homes ended in lengthy prison sentences for all three men.
Although every stolen item from the Dunearn Close burglary was ultimately recovered, the court made clear that the crime’s seriousness extended beyond the monetary losses.
For the elderly resident who encountered the intruders, a kettle of water became an unexpected obstacle in their escape.
The larger question now is whether Singapore’s latest convictions will discourage other foreign offenders from targeting its affluent residential neighborhoods — or whether similar burglary attempts will continue despite the risk of substantial prison terms.
