Section 17, A Hotbed For Crime?

Hi Tiarans,

In the March 28^th, 2006 issue of the Star, there was an article headlined: A Hotbed for Crime. This hotbed seems to be too close for comfort – it is in Section 17, Petaling Jaya. The article stated:

"In Section 17, Petaling Jaya, snatch thefts and break-ins are so common that some houses have been targetted by thieves twice. In my area, snatch thieves even prey on the people on the same road month after month! In the past six months there have been 8 incidents of snatch thefts near the main road between 5am and 7pm. I hope the Police will monitor this area for the safety of the thousands of residents, as it has been a hotbed for crime for the past 8 years."

Indeed, Section 17 is prone to crime and since we Tiarans live here, we have to be extra cautious especially when out of the grounds.

A concerned Tiaran, Mr. Bian Chuan Cheah, sent an email to the Tiara Times, relating an incident which took place in Penang, but he stated, and rightly so, that this incident could happen elsewhere.

Mr. Bian related how a young lady was filling up at a petrol station in Penang when she heard her car number being hailed on the loudspeaker, stating she had not paid the full amount. So she went furiously back into the petrol station counter since she knew she had paid correctly. The attendant calmed her down and explained that he had seen a man climb into the back seat of her car and wanted to warn her. As they spoke, the young lady saw a man dart out of her car. Perhaps the culprit sensed something amiss and left. She was horrified.

Mr. Bian thought he would warn us to be very careful, since how many would suspect such a thing happening? Thank you very much, Mr. Bian, for your advice.

Section 17 is indeed, a hotbed for crime. In less than 2 weeks in March 2006, three incidents took place, resulting in a friend of mine, a resident along Jalan 17/13A having a dialogue with the Police at her home on April 2nd, 2006. She related that only recently a resident along her road had her handbag snatched.

In another incident, along Jalan 17/35, a friend who was in her bedroom resting after an operation, heard frantic shouts for help on the road outside. She ran to her window and saw a young woman sitting in the middle of the road. She had been slashed across her face, and her handbag grabbed as she alighted from her car.

In a third incident, another friend had just reached her friend's home. She dialled her friend from inside her car, to open the gate. As her friend stood at the gate to let her in, a motorcycle with 2 persons stopped close by. At that moment the neighbour arrived home. One of the motorcyclists opened the neighbour's car door, yanked her handbag and then scooted off . Unfortunately for the neighbour, her timely appearance at that moment saved the lady waiting to enter her friend's home from having her handbag grabbed.

Such tales are becoming more common.

So, do take extra care, Tiarans, when outside the safe premises of Tiara.