Two Chinese nationals who travelled to Singapore with plans to commit theft have each been sentenced to 14 months in jail after breaking into a Buddhist temple in Balestier and using homemade tools to steal about S$300 from donation boxes.
Liao Yongzhan, 43, and Liao Quanwan, 50, were sentenced on November 4, 2026, after pleading guilty to housebreaking-related offences. The pair had climbed over the perimeter wall of the Burmese Buddhist Temple along Tai Gin Road in the early hours of April 2 and used improvised fishing devices made from string and adhesive tape to retrieve banknotes through the donation-box openings.
Their crime was interrupted when a Buddhist lecturer spotted them and shouted. The men fled, discarded their tools and returned to their hotel before taking an earlier flight back to China.
But their return to Singapore months later ended differently: both were arrested at Changi Airport on August 17, 2026, when they arrived from China.
The case has drawn attention not only because the stolen amount was relatively small, but because the court heard that the theft was planned before the men arrived in Singapore and that they intended to look for another target when they returned. AsiaOne+3
How the Theft Was Planned Before the Men Arrived in Singapore
According to court documents, the two men were friends who had known each other in China. In March 2026, they agreed to travel to Singapore as part of a tour group, gamble and take the opportunity to commit theft.
They reportedly believed Singapore was a wealthy country where they could find opportunities to steal.
Before travelling, they prepared homemade devices consisting of thin strings and adhesive tape. The tools were designed to pass through the narrow openings of donation boxes, allowing the adhesive to catch banknotes that could then be pulled out.
After arriving, the pair surveyed possible targets before choosing the Burmese Buddhist Temple at 14 Tai Gin Road in Balestier.
The case demonstrates that the theft was not described by prosecutors as a spontaneous act. The men had prepared equipment and selected a religious institution before carrying out the break-in. AsiaOne+2
Buddhist Lecturer Caught the Pair During the Early-Morning Break-In
The offence happened between approximately 1.15am and 4.30am on April 2.
The men climbed over the temple’s perimeter fence and entered the premises. They then used their homemade tools to retrieve approximately S$300 from the donation boxes.
Their attempt was interrupted when a Buddhist lecturer walking through the temple grounds to get water spotted them.
The lecturer shouted at the men, causing them to flee over the fence. They discarded their tools in a nearby drain before taking a taxi back to their hotel.
They then packed their belongings and headed to Changi Airport, where they arranged an earlier flight back to China.
The stolen money was spent on their return air tickets, food and cigarettes. Court reports said they had not made restitution to the temple. STOMP+2
They Returned to Singapore Four Months Later — and Were Arrested at Changi Airport
Leaving Singapore after the April theft did not end the investigation.
The Singapore Police Force had established the men’s identities through follow-up investigations and CCTV footage. However, the two had already left the country on the day of the offence.
In August, they decided to return to Singapore. According to the court proceedings, they intended to gamble and look for another opportunity to commit a housebreaking offence.
Both arrived at Changi Airport on August 17, 2026, and were arrested at the immigration checkpoint.
The amended charges also included an agreement to commit another housebreaking offence in August, although that planned offence was not carried out.
Their arrest illustrates how investigations involving suspects who leave the country can continue after the original incident, with authorities using available evidence to identify individuals and act when they return. AsiaOne+2
Why Each Man Received 14 Months in Jail
The prosecution sought between 10 and 14 months’ imprisonment for each man, arguing that the offence involved planning and premeditation.
The two men each pleaded guilty to two charges. Reports of the court proceedings state that each received a total sentence of 14 months, with the relevant prison terms ordered to run consecutively.
Their imprisonment was backdated to August 17, 2026, when they were arrested and taken into custody.
The prosecution also stressed the seriousness of targeting a place of religious worship. The case involved more than the loss of donation money: it concerned a deliberate break-in at a religious institution and the use of prepared tools to steal from contributions made by worshippers.
The court’s sentence sends a deterrent message against using Singapore as a destination for planned criminal activity. AsiaOne+2
This Was Not Singapore’s First Donation-Box Theft Case Involving Foreign Nationals
The case has similarities to an earlier series of donation-box thefts reported in Singapore in 2023.
In that case, three Chinese nationals were jailed for stealing money from six churches, temples and a monastery over two days.
The men used a similar fishing technique involving strings, adhesive tape and metal pieces to retrieve cash through donation-box openings. They stole S$1,479, along with smaller amounts in other currencies.
The three were sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment each in November 2023.
The earlier case shows that donation-box theft using improvised tools has been reported before. It also highlights why places of worship may need to review how cash donations are stored and how access to their premises is controlled. CNA+1
Temple Strengthens Security After the Incident
A report by Stomp, citing comments from a monk at the Burmese Buddhist Temple, said the premises had been undergoing renovation work at the time of the theft and were closed to the public after 6pm.
The monk said construction workers may not have secured the doors when they left that evening. The temple also had monks staying in a classroom in its library.
After the incident, the temple began ensuring that its doors and windows were locked before the monks went to bed.
The monk described the theft as the first such incident experienced by the temple.
The case is a reminder that even premises with people staying inside can be vulnerable if entry points are not properly secured, particularly during renovation work or after public visiting hours. STOMP
Singapore Police Have Repeatedly Warned Against Leaving Cash and Valuables Unsecured
Following the earlier arrest announcement in August, police reminded property owners and businesses to strengthen security against housebreaking and theft.
Their recommendations included:
- Secure doors, windows, roller shutters and other openings with suitable grilles and padlocks.
- Avoid keeping large amounts of cash or valuables inside unattended premises.
- Install burglar alarms and motion-sensor lighting.
- Position CCTV cameras to cover entry points and areas where valuables are kept.
- Regularly test security equipment to ensure that it is working properly.
These precautions are relevant to temples, churches, businesses and other premises that receive or store cash donations.
For religious institutions, practical safeguards can include securing donation boxes, limiting access to cash storage areas and arranging regular collection of donations rather than leaving large sums on-site for extended periods. MS News+1
WWC ONE MEDIA has also covered other theft and burglary cases in Singapore that underline the importance of protecting cash and valuables:
- Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Wedding Ang Bao Box Containing S$2,000 at Beach Road Hotel
- 27-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Tuas Coffee Shop Break-In After S$100 and Cigarettes Reportedly Stolen
- Three Foreign Burglars Steal S$644,700 From Singapore Luxury Home — But an Elderly Man’s Unexpected Move Changes Everything
- Kim Lim’s Former Employee Jailed 22 Months After Stealing a S$73,000 Patek Philippe and Misusing Company Funds
The Bigger Issue Is Protecting Places of Worship From Planned Theft
Donation boxes hold money contributed by worshippers for religious activities, charity and the maintenance of their institutions. Stealing from them can therefore affect more than the organisation’s finances.
The Burmese Buddhist Temple case also highlights the importance of security during renovation work, when normal access arrangements may be disrupted and doors or other entry points may be left unsecured.
For Singapore, the outcome is another reminder that criminal offences planned before arrival in the country can still lead to prosecution when suspects are identified and later return.
The two men each face 14 months in prison, while the temple has strengthened its nightly security procedures.
The stolen amount was approximately S$300, but the wider lesson is much bigger: even donation boxes inside religious institutions can become targets when criminals believe they can enter unnoticed.
