Introduction:An open-air café in a Singapore museum became a "free hotel" for a 48-year-old man due to insufficient security measures. He repeatedly sneaked in overnight, used electrical outlets, and even did laundry. Despite the owner reporting him to the police, the issue persisted. This article reveals the repeat offender’s background, methods, and offers practical nighttime security tips for café operators to avoid disruptions.

In a Singapore museum, there is a café with an open-air section. Due to its nighttime protection consisting only of railings and ropes, it became a "temporary residence" for a 48-year-old man. Exploiting the weak security, he climbed over the barriers five or six times within a month, sneaking in after hours to spend the night. He not only used the café’s toilets, sofas, and power outlets but even did his laundry inside—behavior that left people astonished.

The café operates from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. After closing, staff usually block off the open-air area with railings and ropes to prevent public access. However, this man easily climbed over the barriers and treated the café as his own. Since he didn’t steal anything, staff initially didn’t notice anything unusual until the owner spotted clues through surveillance footage and realized the uninvited guest had broken in multiple times.

According to records, the man climbed over the barriers to sneak into the café and spend the night up to five or six times within just one month. Fed up, the owner stayed behind on January 26, 2023, after closing to monitor the surveillance. That night, he finally caught the man entering the café and immediately called the police.

When the police arrived, the man initially tried to hide but was eventually found inside the café. Officers ordered him to leave and gave him a stern warning not to return. However, the owner thought the issue was resolved—only to see the man reappear in surveillance footage on January 27 and January 28. Forced to call the police again, the owner found that although the man was driven away and warned both times, no major property damage had occurred, so police could only verbally warn him.

Just when the incident seemed to have subsided, on April 10 of this year, the man was recognized by construction workers when he repeated his antics—repeatedly trespassing at a nearby gym to use the toilets, showers, and rest inside. This time, he couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation, and police arrested him on the spot.

Investigations revealed that the man originally lived with his parents but had become estranged from them and had not returned home during the time of the incidents. Even more shocking is that he is arepeat offenderwho has previously been jailed for arms smuggling and harassing foreign women. After being released, he frequently trespassed into museums, churches, and other venues to scavenge, do laundry, and sleep. He was jailed again in 2022. His actions at the café and the gym have now become a public safety and operational hazard.

Currently, the man faces five charges under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. The judge ultimately sentenced him to a fine of3000 Singapore dollars. As he failed to pay the fine, it was converted to imprisonment.

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This incident serves as a reminder to café operators, especially those with open-air areas or unsecured doors/windows at night, to strengthen nighttime security. It is recommended to consider installing motion-sensor alarms, adding high-strength anti-climb fencing, or hiring security companies for regular patrols. Additionally, after closing, thoroughly check all power sources and valuable equipment to prevent misuse by unauthorized individuals.

Nighttime security for cafés cannot be overlooked. Only with comprehensive precautions can smooth operations be ensured and cafés be protected from becoming the next "target" of lawbreakers.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.