Latest news with #Carousell
International Business Times
2 days ago
- International Business Times
4 Teenagers Arrested in Singapore Over Attempted Robberies After Posing as Luxury Watch Buyers
Four men aged 17 to 19 were arrested on suspicion of being involved in two attempted robberies in which they targeted victims trying to sell costly timepieces. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Thursday, May 29, that they received a call for assistance at Block 432 Clementi Avenue 3 at about 1.44 pm on Wednesday, May 29, after two of the teens allegedly tried to rob a victim. SPF stated that the victim, who had placed an expensive watch for sale on Carousell, had planned to meet the two teenagers to sell it. However, when the victim arrived, the two adolescents, one of them was armed with a knife, attempted to cover the victim's head with a plastic bag. However, the victim managed to escape and call the police. The police identified and arrested the two teens later that day. The knife, which had earlier been discarded, was also recovered. It was later discovered that the two teenagers, along with two others, had done something similar the previous day. In one case, the victim, who had also put a fancy watch for sale on Carousell, was persuaded to meet a potential bidder in the same HDB building. The SPF said, "When the victim arrived at the block, he felt suspicious of the circumstances and managed to leave before being robbed." The two other teens were eventually arrested on Wednesday. The two teenagers who were engaged in Wednesday's incident will face attempted armed robbery charges in court on Friday. One of the youths engaged in Tuesday's event will face attempted robbery charges, while the other will be probed for participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. If convicted of attempted armed robbery, the teens may be jailed for two to seven years and face at least 12 strokes of the cane. For attempted robbery, the offence is punishable with imprisonment for two to seven years and at least six strokes of the cane. The police advised members of the public to be alert and attentive to their surroundings when meeting potential buyers or sellers or making transactions in person, especially when carrying valuables or large sums of cash. They should also avoid secluded places and report anything suspicious to the police immediately.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Four teens tried to rob Carousell seller of $83k Rolex watch
SINGAPORE: Two Carousell users narrowly escaped becoming victims of robbery this week after falling into traps allegedly set by a group of teenagers posing as buyers of luxury watches. The police arrested four male teenagers, aged between 17 and 19, for their suspected involvement in an attempted armed robbery and an attempted robbery on May 27 and 28. In one of the incidents, a Carousell seller had listed a green and gold Rolex Daytona, popularly known as the 'John Mayer' edition, for around $83,000. The victim had arranged to meet a prospective buyer on the afternoon of May 28 at Block 432 Clementi Avenue 3. But when he arrived at the meeting spot, things quickly turned sinister. According to police, two male teenagers allegedly tried to cover the victim's head with a plastic bag. One of them was also armed with a 21cm knife. The victim managed to fight off the attackers and escape, immediately alerting the authorities. See also CNY Toto draw jackpot prize of S$5M attracts long lines of punters The police said they received the call for assistance at about 1.44pm. Officers swiftly identified and arrested the two suspects, 18-year-old Joshua Niteesh Mahesan and 19-year-old Sim De Ren, later that same day. The knife reportedly used in the attack was also recovered after being discarded nearby. Further investigations revealed that the same pair had allegedly attempted a similar robbery just a day earlier, on May 27. This time, they were joined by Darren Chai Jia Le and another unnamed teenage boy. That earlier attempt also involved a seller offering the same model of Rolex watch and being lured to the same HDB block. However, the victim in that case grew suspicious of the setup upon arrival and left before the group could make a move. Chai and the other teenager were also arrested on May 28. Joshua Niteesh and Sim were charged on Friday (May 30) with attempted armed robbery, an offence punishable by imprisonment of between two and seven years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane. Chai faces an attempted robbery charge, which carries the same imprisonment range and a minimum of six strokes of the cane. The unnamed teenager remains under investigation for alleged involvement in a criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. In a statement, the police urged members of the public to remain vigilant when transacting with strangers, especially for high-value items. The authorities also advise buyers and sellers to avoid secluded meeting spots, remain alert to their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity without delay.
New Paper
3 days ago
- New Paper
Three youths charged over alleged attempted robberies involving Carousell sellers of luxury watches
Three teenagers were charged in court on May 30 over alleged attempts to rob sellers on online marketplace Carousell of luxury watches. The three teenagers, all male and aged between 18 and 19, are accused of being involved in the incidents on May 27 and 28. A fourth youth will remain under investigations for being part of a criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. On May 28, two of the teenagers had arranged to meet a seller they found on Carousell, purportedly to buy from him a luxury watch he had listed for sale - a green and gold Rolex Daytona dubbed "John Mayer", which is valued at around $83,000. At their meet-up point in Clementi Avenue 3, the seller encountered the two teenagers, one of whom was armed with a knife with a 21cm blade. He managed to escape after one of the youths tried to cover his head with a plastic bag. The two were arrested on the same day after the seller made a police report. They each face one charge of armed robbery. During investigations, the police found that the pair had attempted a similar robbery on May 27 with another two teenagers. In the earlier incident, they targeted a different seller who listed the same Rolex Daytona model for sale on Carousell, and met him at the same place in Clementi Avenue 3. The police said the seller on May 27 grew suspicious of the meeting and left before the four youths could rob him. The other two teenagers were arrested on May 28 after investigation officers established their identities. One has been charged with attempted robbery, while the other remains under investigation. All three teenagers will return to court on June 27. Those found guilty of attempted armed robbery can be jailed for up to seven years, and given at least 12 strokes of the cane. Those found guilty of attempted robbery can be jailed for up to seven years and given at least six strokes of the cane. In a statement released on May 29, the police said: "Members of the public who encounter such cases are advised to remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and distinctive features of the perpetrator, and call for the police as soon as possible."
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Three youths charged over alleged attempted robberies involving Carousell sellers of luxury watches
SINGAPORE - Three teenagers were charged in court on May 30 over alleged attempts to rob sellers on online marketplace Carousell of luxury watches. The three teenagers , all male and aged between 18 and 19, are accused of being involved in the incidents on May 27 and 28. A fourth youth will remain under investigations for being part of a criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. On May 28, two of the teenagers had arranged to meet a seller they found on Carousell, purportedly to buy from him a luxury watch he had listed for sale – a green and gold Rolex Daytona dubbed 'John Mayer', which is valued at around $83,000. At their meet-up point in Clementi Avenue 3, the seller encountered the two teenagers, one of whom was armed with a knife with a 21cm blade. He managed to escape after one of the youths tried to cover his head with a plastic bag. The two were arrested on the same day after the seller made a police report. They each face one charge of armed robbery. During investigations, the police found that the pair had attempted a similar robbery on May 27 with another two teenagers. In the earlier incident, they targeted a different seller who listed the same Rolex Daytona model for sale on Carousell, and met him at the same place in Clementi Avenue 3. The police said the seller on May 27 grew suspicious of the meeting and left before the four youths could rob him. The other two teenagers were arrested on May 28 after investigation officers established their identities. One has been charged with attempted robbery, while the other remains under investigation. All three teenagers will return to court on June 27. Those found guilty of attempted armed robbery can be jailed for up to seven years, and given at least 12 strokes of the cane. Those found guilty of attempted robbery can be jailed for up to seven years and given at least six strokes of the cane. In a statement released on May 29, the police said: 'Members of the public who encounter such cases are advised to remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and distinctive features of the perpetrator, and call for the police as soon as possible.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Therapy in a box? ‘Kidults' turn to Labubu & Pop Mart for comfort
[SINGAPORE] If you thought Pop Mart's viral toy empire was powered solely by Gen Zs and TikTokers, think again. In Singapore, it's the 40-somethings – middle-aged professionals juggling careers, kids and caregiving – who are also driving the collectibles boom. Based on a recent poll by online marketplace Carousell, 42 per cent of users in its Hobbies and Toys category are aged 41 and above. Even more striking: 40 per cent of these older collectors report spending more than S$1,000 annually on collectibles, just behind the 26-30 age group at 56 per cent. Their favorite collectibles? Labubu, followed by Mofusand, Prismatic Evolutions, Crybaby, Pokemon, Lego and Jellycat. For these midlifers, collecting is more than a hobby – it's a much-needed coping mechanism. With names such as Happiness and Serenity, Labubu's latest plushies series is all about making people feel good. PHOTO: POP MART Just ask Valerie Koh, deputy director of Arts House Limited and mother of four, who owns more than a hundred Pop Mart toys. 'After a stressful day, you buy one and you feel better. It's that simple,' she says. She admits to buying at least one blind box a week, sometimes more, since her kids also enjoy the toys. Her current obsession? Crybaby, which she hangs on her designer bags. 'They're just cute little things that make me happy. They're little mood boosters for adults with disposable cash.' Pop Mart certainly knows this: Its latest Labubu plushies series has characters called Happiness, Serenity and Hope, while its latest Space Molly series is inspired by emojis. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Both men and women of a certain age are seeking solace in Labubu. PHOTO: AFP Emotional benefits galore Dr Hannah H Chang, associate professor of marketing at Singapore Management University, is not surprised by Carousell's findings. 'People in their 40s are among the most stressed,' she explains. 'They often have young kids and ageing parents. They're at the age where they have a lot of responsibilities at work – but at the same time, they also have a stable salary with which they can easily afford a toy that typically costs between S$15.90 and S$24.90.' These toys offer emotional benefits for the buyers – relief from daily burdens, as well as reminders of simpler times when they were kids and had less to worry about. 'So they buy these toys to find some semblance of control and joy in a small object – and that can be a surprisingly powerful emotion,' says Dr Chang. The phenomenon of 'kidults' has certainly been gaining ground. 'The pandemic was tough on everyone, but now there's the tariff wars that may likely impact economies and jobs. People in their 40s are among the most worried about the future right now – so it's no surprise they're turning to toys for escapism,' she adds. Mega Space Molly's latest Emoji series focuses on capturing people's moods. PHOTO: POP MART Pop Mart's financials reflect this trend. In 2024, the Chinese company's net income rose 188 per cent to 3.1 billion yuan (S$555 million), with full-year sales more than doubling to 13 billion yuan. Sales of The Monsters dolls, including Labubu, rose to three billion yuan in 2024 compared with 368 million yuan before. Crybaby, another fast-growing intellectual property product, had a more than 1,500 per cent increase in related revenue. Pop Mart's marketing genius Pyron Tan, another married 40-something, has been collecting Labubu long before the craze. He had early models, including the Labubu X Sml figurines, which he sold for five times their original price. 'I think I bought them for around S$40 and sold for about S$200 – though I recently saw a similar piece on Carousell with an asking price of S$1,699,' he says. An early collector of Labubus, 44-year-old Pyron Tan has been able to sell some discontinued figurines at four or five times the retail price. PHOTO: PYRON TAN But the creative professional insists he isn't in it for the money. 'I buy what I like. But if the price goes up, I might choose to let it go.' He then uses the profits to pay for his next toy. 'For me, buying toys helps me destress. It is self-care – part retail therapy, and part making up for the fact that I didn't have a lot of toys when I was growing up.' Like Tan, 76 per cent of Carousell respondents aged 41 and above in the survey have been collecting for more than five years – well before the global Labubu craze took off in 2024, sparked by a spontaneous endorsement from Thai pop star Lisa. Interestingly, 14 per cent of these midlifers started collecting only within the past year, suggesting that the Lisa effect has spread to a minority of 40-somethings who previously didn't even collect toys. Dr. Chang believes none of this is accidental. 'Pop Mart is very smart about identifying and responding to emerging demographics,' she says. 'They've ramped up production of their small plushies that double as fashion accessories – popular not just with teenagers but with adult women. They're cute, collectible and wearable, so you can feel you're part of a community when you carry it around.' Carousell's recent poll shows that people aged 41 to 50 are the biggest users of its Hobbies and Toys category. GRAPHIC: CAROUSELL At the same time, the brand caters to serious collectors with premium figurines that sometimes increase in value, while also reimagining the online shopping experience. Its digital feature, Pop Now, lets users shake their phones to partially reveal what's inside a blind box – bringing the tactile thrill of in-store shopping into the digital realm. 'I've never seen anyone replicate that experience so successfully,' says Dr Chang. Add free delivery for orders above just S$47.70 – eliminating the common gripe of shipping costs – and it's no surprise that sales have soared. 'They hold my feelings' Jasline Ng, another working mother in her 40s, doesn't just buy blind boxes – she sometimes purchases entire collections at one go. With more disposable income than younger collectors, she sources for rare models on Carousell and TikTok, gifts blind boxes to her friends and relatives, and dresses up her Labubus in pretty outfits. Midlifer Jasline Ng and her daughter bond over Labubu and Crybaby. PHOTO: JASLINE NG 'These toys make me feel young,' she says. 'They connect me with different age groups and conversations. Whenever I see someone else carrying a Labubu or Crybaby, I feel connected to them – like we're part of the same community.' Some have called her childish. But she doesn't care. 'My daughter loves the Crybaby cherry magnets. She says it represents the two of us sticking together... Overall, these toys give me emotional support. It's like Crybaby is holding my emotions for me. If I feel sad, it reminds me it's okay to cry.' For Ng, Koh and Tan, Pop Mart toys aren't just playthings – they're therapy sessions in a box.
