By Alice Chia, Channel NewsAsia, 7 May 2014
The roof level of a 22-storey Housing and Development Board block was painted with graffiti containing vulgarities and criticism of a political party in an apparent case of vandalism.
Pictures of the graffiti were circulated on social media sites on Wednesday morning.
Police said they received a call at 6.47am requesting for assistance at Blk 85A, Toa Payoh Lorong 4.
"Upon police's arrival, it was established that a case of vandalism had occurred at the said location," a police spokesman said.
A contractor at the scene told Channel NewsAsia that residents had called the Town Council's 24-hour hotline to complain about the graffiti.
The access hatch to the block's parapet was locked when the police tried to enter the site on Wednesday morning.
According to a Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council staff member, who did not want to be named, the water tanks on the roof top had not been tampered with.
"I don't know how they managed to get up here. The police are investigating,” said the staff member.“They can't get access to the roof level because it is locked. You would need the key and our approval."
At around 11.30am, workers were seen painting over the graffiti.
Residents Channel NewsAsia spoke with said they only noticed something was amiss when police officers called on them to ask questions.
"I slept at 1am. So basically, when I went to bed, it was quiet and usually if anything outside happens, I can hear it," said Yeo Huie Lin, a resident.
However, they had concerns about the incident.
Resident Ambrosia Yap said: "They can go up to the water tank. This is also a very terrible problem because… you won't know what they can put in the water. And probably they need to check on it and they should have some policemen around these few days."
A spokesperson from Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said the Town Council keeps the key to the trapdoor that gives access to the rooftop and that authorised personnel must sign for the key and be accompanied by an auxiliary police officer.
The Town Council said no one has requested for the key and it has handed the records to the Police for their investigation.
The town council said the security process to control access to the rooftops has remained intact.
However, it will review all the processes again and strengthen them where necessary.
"No breach of security measures" in HDB roof vandalism case
By Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia, 8 May 2014
By Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia, 8 May 2014
There was "no breach of security measures" by the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council in relation to the vandalism case in Toa Payoh on Wednesday.
Coordinating Chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP) Town Councils, Dr Teo Ho Pin, said this on Thursday in response to queries by Channel NewsAsia.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were seen combing Block 85A Toa Payoh Lorong 4, a day after the vandalism took place.
The roof level at that block of flats was painted with graffiti containing vulgarities seemingly directed at the ruling party.
This was possibly the second time unauthorised persons have managed to get onto the rooftop of an HDB flat.
In 2011, a foreign domestic worker's body was found in a rooftop water tank in Sembawang.
Dr Teo stressed that the PAP town councils take a serious view of the security and safety of roofs and water tanks at HDB blocks.
He said that over the last three years, the town councils have set up a security protocol on rooftop access.
Dr Teo said: "The town councils have set up three lines of defence to make sure that (only) authorised personnel can go up to the rooftop of our HDB flats.
"So we have, first of all, secured locks to make sure that all the trap doors and all the doors are properly locked using a very robust lock system.
"We also make sure that our water tanks are all with brackets -- they are all bolted down to make sure that nobody can vandalise (them).
"At the same time, we have an authorised access system where only authorised persons can go up the roof."
The town councils believe the present security system is adequate to prevent any unauthorised access to the roofs. However, they will need to evaluate if the breach is caused by other factors.
Channel NewsAsia has been trying to figure out how the vandals could have reached the rooftop without using the trap door.
Channel NewsAsia has been trying to figure out how the vandals could have reached the rooftop without using the trap door.
Looking at the place, one can see a small opening which leads to the roof. There are also stains on the walls, which could mean that the vandals could have placed a ladder against the walls to get to the opening.
A ladder was found beneath the access hatch to the rooftop.
Residents have also suggested the use of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to deter unauthorised entry to the roof.
Police have plans to install CCTV cameras at 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks by the fourth quarter of 2016.
The Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said it has filed a police report and is cooperating with investigations.
The Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council said it has filed a police report and is cooperating with investigations.