SGHOUSING.COM 新加坡房地产网

They find front doors glued to the frames

Call it a sticky situation.

Two condominium residents woke up yesterday morning to find their front doors stuck with glue to their doorframes.

As a result, the residents, who live in two adjacent ninth-storey units at Block 5000E at Laguna Park, were unable to leave for work.

Police spokesman Stanley Norbert confirmed that police were informed that residents at two units at the condominium in Marine Parade Road were unable to leave their homes.

He said a 61-year-old man was arrested and investigations are ongoing.

The man is believed to be a resident at the private housing estate.

Condominium manager Frank Ng said he saw police cars arrive at Laguna Park around 7am yesterday, but he was unable to get more details.

The New Paper e-mailed some queries about the incident to the condominium’s management corporation yesterday, but there was no reply at press time.

Yesterday’s incident appears to be the latest in Laguna Park’s en-bloc vandalism woes.

There have been several acts of vandalism there recently, apparently targeting residents who were against an en-bloc sale.

At least five cars belonging to these residents have been vandalised.

Some of the vehicles were splashed with a corrosive liquid, while others were scratched and splashed with paint.

Last Wednesday, vandals used glue to seal the keyholes of eight letter boxes - all belonging to residents who had not signed the en-bloc sales agreement.

Some of the affected residents had also had their cars vandalised earlier.

Two days later, another resident, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Tan, said her letter box and those of four other residents had their keyholes sealed with glue.

She said: ‘I saw no reason to make a police report. I just cleaned up the glue and went about my normal duties.

‘The strangest thing is, I am in favour of the en-bloc (sale).’

Mrs Tan, 48, said another resident whose letter box was vandalised last Friday was also in the pro-en-bloc camp.

She believed the vandals are trying to sow confusion and stop the en-bloc sale from going ahead.

Police confirmed receiving two reports of vandalised letter boxes in Laguna Park last Friday. In a crime prevention advisory dated 29 Jul, Laguna Park residents were advised to take the following measures to prevent acts of mischief:
Park their vehicles in well-lit designated areas
Install anti-theft alarms that are regularly checked and serviced
Cover their parked vehicles with canvas sheets
Form watch groups to patrol the car parks

Anyone found guilty of mischief can be jailed for up to a year and fined.

If the act of mischief causes loss or damage worth $500 or more, the offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined.

The possibility of the estate going en bloc arose last December, and residents have until the end of this year to gather an 80 per cent vote to put it up for sale.

Mrs Tan said about 65 per cent are now onboard.

Residents have been told by a property valuer that an average unit could be worth more than $2.1 million and the penthouses almost $4m if the estate goes en-bloc, The Straits Times reported last month.
 
Source : New Paper - 26 Aug 2008