ICYMI, Singapore has been ranked the #1 safest country to walk alone at night this year, according to Gallup’s Global Safety Report 2025. Not exactly shocking – even tourists can’t stop gushing about how clean and safe our country is. But because we’ve gotten so used to it, we hardly notice these little things that quietly remind us not to take our safety for granted. So here’s a quick reality check – a list of things that only we can get away with, because Singapore is so safe.
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Image credit: CCTV Singapore
Maybe because we’ve all been trained from a young age to be model citizens. We diligently queue up, wait for the green man even when the road is empty, and automatically stand on the left side of the escalator like it’s second nature. Discipline and respect for rules are embedded in our DNA.
Add in our famously strict laws, harsh penalties for crimes, and many, many CCTVs, and you get the recipe for a low-crime nation. Of course, low crime doesn’t mean no crime – but living somewhere this safe is definitely something we shouldn’t take for granted.
Screenshot from: Reddit
At first, it was tissues and umbrellas, but now we’ve gotten so comfortable that we casually use our bags, phones, laptops, and even money, to chope tables. And this is just one of the many uniquely Singaporean cultural quirks. But the best part is: regardless of how long you’ll be gone for, your belongings will 99% remain untouched.
This phenomenon can be spotted all across Singapore. Students will die-die want to keep their study spot while going to the toilet or grabbing food, so they leave all sorts of expensive devices and belongings just to stake their claim. It’s also a common sight at hawker centres, especially during peak lunch and dinner hours. But we have to say, this is fair if you want to survive the sea of hangry workers.
Image credit: My Digital Lock Sg via Google Maps
To us Singaporeans, leaving the front door open is such a harmless habit and a quick way to catch a breeze in this relentless heat. Walk down your HDB corridor, and there’s a good chance you’ll get a live peek into someone else’s flat. Totally normal here, but also totally shocking to anyone from outside.
It’s a privacy nightmare, and there’s some risk of break-ins, even in our ultra-safe Singapore. But at least most of us have strong digital locks, so if anyone does try their luck, they’ll still be staring at a keypad instead of your living room in all its glory.
Image adapted from: Sembawang NPC via Facebook
Only in Singapore can you lose your phone or wallet and get it back in one piece. I personally, though I’m not proud to admit, have firsthand experience of this.
I lost both my phone and wallet in the span of 6 months, but managed to get both back. According to the police, a good Samaritan had found my wallet and left it with the police. Getting my phone back was a whole other adventure involving Find My iPhone and a mini East side treasure hunt, but it all worked out in the end.
And it’s not just me who has had their lost belongings returned to them. 2 strangers who went out of their way to return a wallet they picked up at Jewel Changi – after tracking down the owner’s address, mind you – even made it to the news.
Image credit: HakimAzhar via Flickr
Most Millennials and Gen Zs remember the good old days of playing masak masak or football with their cousins or friends at the void deck. Back then, parents were chill enough to let their kids play downstairs unsupervised into the late evening.
This carefree vibe probably harks back to kampung times, when neighbours knew each other and would watch over children in the neighbourhood.
Sadly, this “void deck culture” has fizzled out in recent years – probably because kids these days are more interested in tablets and phones than playing outside. But there’s a silver lining – Singapore is safe enough that parents at parks or playgrounds don’t have to hover over their children like hawks.
A handful of shops, like the ones in MRT station “malls”, have an open concept. They’re not traditional stalls, so they don’t have any gates or barriers staff can close at the end of the day. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, especially when many of these businesses just use a black cloth to cover the counters and merchandise, or pop up a retractable barrier at night. There’s little concern whatsoever about potential robbery.
But part of the magic is that most of the foot traffic is just fellow Singaporeans zipping by, eyes glued to their next destination. Honestly, with our fast-paced lifestyle, you won’t feel like being kaypoh when your cosy bed is waiting for you at home.
Image adapted from: Emil Kalibradov via Flickr
Remember the “Attenzione pickpocket” lady who went viral for warning tourists about pickpockets in Italy? She would most likely be out of a job if she ever came to Singapore. Even in the most touristy spots, like Gardens by the Bay or the busy Bugis Street, pickpockets are practically non-existent, so we’ve all felt safe enough to just keep our valuables in our back pockets.
But this is definitely a habit to ditch when travelling abroad. Keep your stuff in your bag, or you might never see your phone again.
P.S. Check out our travel safety tips to stay safe in a foreign country.
Image credit: Wei Yin
Living in an HDB means having built-in neighbours on every side. Yet somehow, that doesn’t stop us from leaving parcels at the door.
When we are at work, at home, or even abroad, we can leave our parcels unattended for hours, and they’ll be exactly where the couriers left them when we get home.
But it doesn’t mean we’re completely invincible. There have been instances of delivery riders swiping packages, so a little caution goes a long way. Maybe opt for Pick Locker and self-collection points to enjoy free delivery, or have a trusted neighbour hold on to your parcels.
Image credit: Sander Jongenelen via Flickr
Everyone has that one story about falling asleep on public transport, but here’s the kicker: your belongings are guaranteed to remain untouched throughout your journey. A content creator even left her phone unattended at Chinatown MRT station as an experiment, and it was still there when she came back 10 minutes later.
You can be holding your phone or using expensive headphones, and when you wake up, everything’s exactly where you left it. The worst that can happen is you miss your stop, but that’s honestly a small price to pay for a worry-free nap.
Jokes aside, we really should count our lucky stars for how safe Singapore is. Let’s continue being vigilant, appreciate the little things, and not take our country’s safety for granted.
For more humorous reads:
Cover image adapted from: Reddit, Wei Yin, Sembawang NPC via Facebook
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