A man parking below an HDB block in Tiong Bahru got a shock when objects came “falling from the sky”, forcing him to quickly reverse his car to avoid being hit.
The high-rise littering incident happened on Jan 17 at around 3pm, on the 12th floor of Block 2C along Boon Tiong Road, reported Shin Min Daily News.
The man, Mr Cai, 36, who works as a designer, said he was parking under the block when he suddenly saw a plastic object fall from above, landing in the rubbish chute area nearby.
Startled, he looked up and realised the commotion was coming from the upper floors. He then noticed movement on the 12th floor and immediately took out his phone to record a video, hoping to capture evidence. In the process, he filmed a tense moment.
“A chair was thrown down from the 12th floor. I was so frightened that I quickly moved my car. It would have been dangerous if it hit me,” he said.
Mr Cai managed to reverse in time and avoided being hit. He thought the incident was over, but moments later, glass fragments and shoes were thrown down as well.
Footage showed a boy leaning out after throwing the chair, apparently checking what was happening below. Concerned that he or other residents could be injured, Mr Cai called the police at the scene.
When Shin Min Daily News visited the block, residents on the same floor said they were aware of the incident. However, they said the boy involved does not live on that block and is believed to be from a nearby one.
Residents said they were worried, especially since there is a playground below the block. High-rise littering poses a serious safety risk, and the consequences could be severe if someone were hit.
The police confirmed they had received a report and said the matter is under investigation.
Previously linked to a missing bicycle
Mr Cai also told reporters that one of his bicycles went missing late last year. He later spotted a boy pushing what looked like his bicycle and confronted him.
He believes the boy involved was one of the same children suspected in the high-rise littering case.
Other residents also shared that last year, a boy had tried to push away a baby stroller left at a corner of the playground, but was stopped when the owner noticed and shouted at him.
Neighbours say children often roam the estate noisily
Nearby residents said several children believed to be involved often roam around nearby HDB blocks, running between different floors and making noise.
Still, many residents said they chose to tolerate it as the children are young.
“Sometimes it’s really noisy, but it doesn’t feel right to argue with children. Their parents also don’t seem to discipline them much,” one resident said.
Some residents said they had gone to the boy’s home to raise the issue, but did not see his parents. Only the boy’s elderly grandfather was at home, and the matter eventually ended without further follow-up.
