SINGAPORE – A 31-year-old man was arrested on Sept 11 after he allegedly attempted to rob another man while armed with a penknife.

The police said on Sept 12 that they were alerted to the incident along Lorong 8 Geylang at about 10.33am.

The suspect had allegedly tried to rob a 38-year-old man of his mobile phone, but the older man managed to flee without losing any of his valuables.

Officers from Bedok Police Division arrested the suspect within seven hours of a report being lodged.

The man will be charged in court on Sept 13.

If found guilty of attempted armed robbery, he faces a jail term of between two and seven years. He can also receive at least 12 strokes of the cane.

The police stressed that they will “spare no effort” to arrest those who commit violent crimes. They advised that individuals should remain calm during a robbery, take note of the perpetrator’s appearance and distinctive features, and call the police as soon as possible.