Quoting From Hong Fu: I feel that there could be other more effective ways of decreasing the number of crimes in Singapore. Examples are to educate the people, increase penalties and the tighten of security by strengtening the police force.

Firstly, educating people might not help as even if they are educated, they might still commit crimes.

Secondly, increasing the penalties is an after effect, and it is only applicable after the person commits the crime and thus not preventing it. Even if you say that it would make people afraid of the greater punishments but criminals often do not think of the consequences as the are desperate.