Visit Singapore

Well the good news is that crime in Singapore is low. However, there are some reported cases of pick pockets and snatching of purses. An airport safety issue to watch out for is problems with laptop theft.

Credit card fraud is yet another problem throughout Singapore. Remember only to carry and use one credit card while abroad. This way only one card is compromised rather than all your cards. Also avoid giving out any credit card information over the phone. It could be a potential telephone scam. Remember to check you bill in restaurants and bars to ensure they are accurate before paying with you card. Lastly, be sure to secure your card in a safe if it’s left unattended in your hotel room.

In the event that you do need emergency services in Singapore, the number for the police is 999 and 995 for fire and emergency.

As you can see, crime will be of little worry to expats residing in or travelers to Singapore; however, terrorism should be of concern. Now, I’m not saying that terrorists are running around the country such as in Pakistan or Afghanistan but there have been issues.

For example, during 2001 a member of a terrorist group called Jemaah Islamiyah was arrested in Singapore for planning attacks against U.S. targets inside the country. During February of 2008, one of the group’s members, Mas Selamat Kastari, escaped from jail and has not still not been located by law enforcement.

Furthermore, officials in both the U.S. and Singapore are concerned that extremist groups in other Southeast Asian countries may attempt to carry out attacks inside Singapore in the future. For this reason the U.S. Embassy there has recommended that Americans citizens practice sound personal security while visiting or reside there. Remember, terrorists rarely distinguish between civilian and government targets when planning an attack. This means that foreigners should use caution when visiting tourist locations abroad.

In closing, I’d like to say that I believe Singapore is one of the safest countries to visit. They have extremely strict laws, which is the reason for the low crime rate. If you do have plans to visit just remember the issues mentioned here and I’m sure you will have a great time.

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