The final day has come: The last day of Singapore Sungei Road Thieves’ Market operation, 10th July 2017.
One of the ‘symbolic’ icons of Singapore is gone, forever.
Here’s my brief understanding of Thieves’ Market:
Thieves’ Market wasn’t called Thieves’ Market in the first place. In the early days, it was just a place for mainly Malaysians to sell their goods as it’s so near to the Johore-Singapore bus terminal.
One day, a man’s car tyre was stolen. To his surprise, he found it in this flea market.
Hence, there came the name ‘Thieves’ Market’.
Afterwards, whoever lost anything was said to have a higher chance to find the item back in this market.
Overall the years, I also heard that the peddlers were of great help to the police force for theft cases.
This is the story I heard. I don’t know how true it is.
Now, in order to give way for the new highway and MRT station, the flea market is forced to close permanently, affecting many peddlers, who are mainly elderly.
In memory of this 80-year-old historical icon, I am going to post some of the street photos of Thieves’ Market.
All photos were shot on film cameras. Enjoy!

Lomography CN 100, Thieves Market (May 2017)

Lomography CN 100, Thieves Market (May 2017)

Lomography CN 100, Thieves Market (May 2017)

Thieves Market, Kodak Color Plus 200 (2017)

Sungei Road Thieves Market, Kodak Color Plus 200 (2017)

Singapore, Fujicolor 富士业务用400 (2017)

Fuji Pro 400H, Singapore (2017)

Ilford Pan 400 (June 2017)

Thieves’ Market, Fomapan 400 (June 2017)

Thieves’ Market, Fomapan 400 (June 2017)

Fujicolor Industrial 100 (March 2017)

Fujicolor Industrial 400 (March 2017)

Thieves market Singapore, Fuji Pro400H (2017)

Rolleiflex, Fuji Pro400H, Thieves Market (2017)
What will happen to these vendors/peddlers?
There had been petition and campaign going on to urge the authority to preserve this ‘heritage site’. This part obviously failed.
But the plan to allocate the flea markets to an alternative place for the peddlers to continue doing what they do is agreed upon.
The peddlers are relaunching themselves at Golden Mile Tower (Little Thai), 6th floor on 15th July 2017.
Otherwise, some of them have simply decided to retire. Some of them have found shop-front/stall elsewhere, with financial aid from the government, to continue their businesses. While some of them are still feeling bleak about their lives.

Kodak Tri-X 400, Sungei Road Thieves Market (9 July 2017)

Kodak Tri-X 400, Sungei Road Thieves Market (9 July 2017)
If you are new to this film photography blog, Start Here. Or head over to Film Look to see samples of each film.
Thank god I’ve been there once! haha thank you or else i don’t know in Singapore, there have such a magical place!
You’re welcome! 🙂