Sheng Siong’s Facial Recognition Catches Shoplifter After 12 Thefts, October 9

A 45-year-old gym coach was sentenced to one week in jail on October 8 after Sheng Siong supermarket’s facial recognition CCTV technology caught her shoplifting 12 times between May and August 2025. Leong Seek Yuen stole groceries worth nearly S$90 from the Sin Ming Avenue outlet, using self-checkout kiosks to scan some items while leaving others unpaid. The case marks the second shoplifter identified by the supermarket chain’s AI system since it launched in April 2024.

How Sheng Siong’s facial recognition caught the repeat thief

An assistant supervisor at the Sin Ming Avenue outlet received an alert on October 1, 2025, when Leong returned to the store. The supervisor had reviewed CCTV footage after discovering missing items during a stock check on September 29. He alerted police, and officers arrested her the same day. Leong had visited the outlet 12 times over three months, each time using the self-checkout kiosk to scan some groceries before leaving with both paid and unpaid items.

Sheng Siong’s technology advantage in retail security

Sheng Siong has deployed facial recognition CCTV since April 2024 to identify suspected shoplifters. The system allows staff to flag repeat offenders when they return to stores. Traditionally, shoplifting suspects are identified only after leaving with unpaid items, requiring staff to manually review security footage. Leong was one of two women charged with theft in November 2025 after being identified through the technology. The other shoplifter, caught at the Punggol Central outlet, was sentenced to eight days in jail in May.

Restitution and sentencing details

Leong made full restitution for the stolen groceries before her October 8 court appearance. Her defence lawyer, Mitchell Leon Siu Kin, told the court that she had been diagnosed with a form of depressive disorder. State Prosecuting Officer Lee Cheng Wah outlined how she systematically stole meat products and drinks across her 12 visits. The court accepted her guilty plea to theft and imposed the one-week jail sentence.

Retail theft pressure on Singapore supermarkets

Sheng Siong’s investment in facial recognition reflects growing retail theft challenges in Singapore. A separate case from October 5, 2026, involved a 40-year-old woman sentenced to eight weeks and five days for multiple retail thefts and an unpaid restaurant bill totalling S$203.50. Sheng Siong’s facial recognition system represents one retailer’s response to rising losses. The technology removes facial records following arrest, protecting privacy while maintaining security.

Final Thoughts

Sheng Siong’s facial recognition deployment is proving effective at identifying repeat shoplifters, with two convictions since April 2024. For investors in OV8.SI, the technology signals management’s focus on loss prevention and operational efficiency. As retail theft pressures mount across Singapore, retailers adopting AI surveillance may gain a competitive edge.

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The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.