Robbery at Trans-Cab headquarters

AT ABOUT 4.20pm yesterday, a man walked into Trans-Cab’s headquarters with nothing in his hands, but left less than two minutes later with almost $4,500 in cash.

He was last seen driving away in a silver-coloured Toyota taxi, parked outside the Defu Lane compound.

The robbery took place at Trans-Cab’s petrol kiosk, which is situated in front of the company’s premises. The sole pump attendant on duty then, who only wanted to be known asMr Karthik, said a man walked up to him and whipped out a 30-cm-long knife from underneath his shirt.

The man held the knife to Mr Karthik’s neck, before taking the cash in his waist pouch and walking out.

The licence plate of the taxi was reportedly concealed with black tape. Police described the suspect as slim built, fair complexioned, 1.7m tall and in his 30s. He was last seen wearing a grey polo T-shirt and blue jeans.

The compound had no security guards and was tucked away in a corner of Defu industrial estate. Ms Tan said the company would review security measures after yesterday’s incident.

A closed circuit television at the kiosk had apparently captured the suspect during the robbery. Mr Karthik, an Indian national who suffered cuts to his hand, accompanied the police to assist in their investigations.

Police investigations are in progress.

Home-buyers today cautious, but genuine

SINCE its launch last week, :more than1,000 applications have been received for 578 units at Park Central@AMK, Singapore’s third condominium-style public housing development.

Earlier this year, the pricing of such projects built by private developers had caused a stir.
City View@Boon Keng’s price tag of $520 psf was a record for new public housing flats. More than 3,500 people applied for the 714 units :—: but only 66 per cent actually bought them.

Six months after its launch, 20 per cent of the units remain unsold, said the project’s marketing agent.

But this slower pace of sales “does not mean the market cannot sustain the price”, said Mr :Donald Yeo, executive director of HSR International Realtors. “It’s still very competitive and I believe the prices are still realistic.”

Buyer response had hit fever pitch for the first DBSS development in 2006, when nearly 6,000 people applied for 616 units, :going for around $300 psf, at Premiere@Tampines.

At Park Central, all units come with the look and feel of a private residential home but they cost about 40 per cent less, at$500 per square foot.

The developer did not think the resale flats in the area would pose a threat to sales of Park Central, as many of the resale units are about 10 to 20 years old :— and most home hunters prefer to buy new flats, even at a 10 per cent premium.

Industry players expect prices at the next condo-style public housing project in Bishan to be even higher, partly due to the spike in construction cost.

' SNAP'- SINGAPORE FLYER -'SNAP'

For those who haven't been to the Singapore Flyer, or

have never heard about it....

here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

VERY UN-APPETIZING PEPPER CRAB

(photoshot from a banner display sighted at a so-called POSH chinese restaurant)

Is that MUD on the CRAB? No..think it's TAR! EEEKs...

CREAMY (too much butter) BUTTER FLAVOURED CRAB?

WAY TOOOO CREAMY.

TAKE NOTE: NOT SUITED FOR DIABETICS OR THE OVERWEIGHT

SHE PAYS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FAKE LANDLORD

The tenant, who wanted to be known only as Miss Cui, is a 25-year-old Chinese national who is working here as a sales executive. She signed a one-year lease for the master bedroom of a flat in Clementi for a monthly rent of $600. When she complained to the 'landlord', she was shocked to discover the woman was not only a bankrupt, she did not even own the flat.
To top it off, she had to leave when the actual owner evicted her 'landlord' for failing to pay rent and subletting the room.

Now she says she is losing more than $1,500 which she had paid to the 'landlord'.

DIRTY
Miss Cui was soon bothered by the bed bugs.
And there were cockroaches in the kitchen.
The power supply was cut off.
Miss Cui finally learnt the truth when on 13 Apr, the real owner of the flat came with policemen to evict her 'landlord'. She said she left the flat to avoid trouble.

AVOIDED CALLS
A check with the Insolvency & Public Trustee's Office revealed that the 'landlord' is an undischarged bankrupt. 'She has avoided my calls, and I doubt I will get my money back,' she said.

In the event of a dispute between the tenant and landlord, a claim may be lodged at the Small Claims Tribunal.

What's next for property?

ARE property prices still on the way up, or are they heading to a slippery slope already?

One property consultant in a news report may say property prices will go up, but another consultant in the same report will probably say that the high prices cannot be sustained in the current climate.

So, who do you believe?

But if you do notice more of the following, you'll know that something is brewing.

* Rentals start dropping
* More homes in the market
* Agents get aggressive
* More units put up for sale
* No one's home?
* Asking prices have dropped. Again.
* Property not moving
* More units put up for rent
* Economic weakness and uncertainty
* Falling wages & rising unemployment

Sanitary pads, egg shells, half-eaten food

SERIAL high-rise litter-bugs have reared their ugly heads again, this time at Block 307D, Anchorville Road in Sengkang.

It started with half-eaten food and other rubbish, but it was a soiled sanitary pad that finally made one resident blow her top.

A housewife, who wanted to be known only as Madam Soh, said her entire day was ruined when she spotted the pad splattered on the ledge of her master bedroom window.

'I saw the pad near the aircon condenser after I woke up that morning. I was very upset and insisted that the town council do something about it,' she said.

PM Lee urges more Singaporeans to donate

Last year, charitable donations to non—profit organisations (Institutions of Public Character) increased by more than 50 per cent to S$820 million.
Every society has to take care of its people, especially the vulnerable groups, said Mr Lee.

"The more they have gained from society, the greater their obligation to give back something to their fellow citizens. They must not allow society to be split between the haves and have—nots, and undermine the whole basis for able people to succeed and create wealth in Singapore," said Mr Lee.

He noted that Singapore has yet to build a strong philanthropic tradition.

For this purpose, the Community Foundation of Singapore has been set up to offer advice to high net worth individuals wishing to support worthy causes.

To date, nearly S$13 million has been raised. The centre has been helping to foster the spirit of giving in Singapore.

This spirit is evident in the many contractor—related and legal services provided free of charge by companies for the completion of the centre’s new premises at Clarke Quay

S’poreans spending up 33% in first month of GSS over last year

Rising costs haven’t dampened the shopping spirit this Great Singapore Sale (GSS), if figures from MasterCard are anything to go by.

Total MasterCard spending for the GSS so far, which includes that from tourists, saw a 27 per cent rise from last year to US$364.6 million.
Consumers spent the most money dining out. Sales were up 38 per cent from the same month compared to last year to US$27.8 million.

The Great Singapore Sale ends on July 20.

Brunch in your pyjamas at novelty Singapore cafe

A Singaporean restaurant is trying to break into the competitive brunch scene by tapping into the wild side of this conservative city-state, hosting pyjama parties and cross-dressing events for Sunday breakfast.

Last month, it was the pyjama brunch, where patrons were invited to turn up in their sleeping finery. As if to lead by example, the staff wore loungewear while owner Jay Hequet took orders in a pyjama top, a sleep mask pulled back into her hair.

Hequet says holding themed parties is aimed at giving Oomphatico's an edge in a crowded market -- and having fun.

"As competitive as brunch may be, people still move towards concepts that they are familiar with," she told Reuters. "They will come because of what they like at Oomphatico's. The entertainment is a part of what they get to experience."