Saturday September 15, 2012

Jalan Templer residents scared and wary of strangers after spate of robberies

By PRIYA MENON
priya@thestar.com.my
Photo by ART CHEN

NEWS of crimes in neighbourhoods around the Klang Valley has grabbed headlines in the local media for a number of weeks now.

While many are afraid of the ruthless robbers and snatch thieves, the community in Jalan Templer are shocked by the nonchalant attitude of the young criminals who have been ‘visiting’ their area recently.

A woman who wished to be known as Devi said two months ago, a car trailed her neighbour back to their street and stopped in front of her house.

A young man got out of the car and coolly walked into the compound of her home. Suspecting something amiss, Devi walked to her door and questioned the boy, who said her husband had asked him to come and collect the rent.

“I knew the boy was lying because my husband had just called me a few minutes earlier and had not mentioned anything about the rent.

<b>Easy pickings:</b> The quiet lanes in Section 6 make it easy for bad hats to drive through unnoticed during the day.

Easy pickings: The quiet lanes in Section 6 make it easy for bad hats to drive through unnoticed during the day.

“He looked at me and said, ‘you look very afraid aunty’ with a cheeky smile,” she added.

Devi said the boy scanned the inside of the home and surrounding as he talked to her. She said she was lucky as the door was locked from the inside.

“The boy tried the door but could not open it. That was when I asked my daughter to alert my son who was in his room. This caused the boy to turn around and stroll back to the car and drove off.

Her neighbour, Uma Cynthia also had several frightening experiences, including having her car window smashed as she was trying to park her car. The robbers snatched things from her car which was right in front of her house.

But the most frightening incident was when a man walked into the compound of Uma’s house at 8.30pm.

“My daughter, who was in a room, spotted the man. He walked up to the window and asked for me, and when my daughter said I was not at home, the man walked around the compound before walking out the gate.

“My husband was in the kitchen but I think this guy thought no one was at home as it was dark. My daughter could only see his teeth.

“The grille was closed but not padlocked and the guy walked away with the padlock before telling her, we forgot to lock it,” she said.

An old folk’s home behind Uma’s house was robbed by parang-wielding men who arrived in style — in a Proton Perdana.

The houseowner said they came in, put a parang to her throat and started demanding for all their jewellery. They, however, did not harm any of the elderly folk in the home and left within 10 minutes.

“We are very worried for the safety of our families, the criminals seem at ease and confident each time they strike.

“We get scared whenever we see an unfamiliar car driving past our houses,” she said.

While she acknowledged that the police would come every time they lodge a report after an incident, they are hoping other measures could be taken to deter the thieves in the future.

“Their arrogance is frightening, we hope the police can send undercover officers to watch over the neighbourhood.

“We understand the police cannot be everywhere but the crime rate is increasing every day,” added Devi.

Several residents believe some of the suspects hide in the big drains at the end of Lorong 6/30B and are hoping the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) can cover it up to prevent it from being a hideout.

When contacted, MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said the council would check on the feasibility of cordoning off the drains as requested by the residents.

A thorough check needs to be conducted to ensure the drain closure would not cause any problems in the future.