LEAD Bercham Voluntary Security Association members checking on shophouses in Bercham during a night patrol on June 11.
PRIOR to the Covid-19 pandemic, neighbourhood watch groups used to be very active in conducting night patrols to deter criminal activities.
Since the implementation of the various movement control orders a few years ago, the activity has slowed down.
Now, these groups mostly mobilise only when they receive a call or whenever their services are required.
However, some groups are mulling a restart to the night patrols to enhance neighbourhood security.
Menglembu Rakan Cop Community Association (MRCCA) treasurer Wong Puck Wai said the group that started 12 years ago, had about 20 active members.
Menglembu Rakan Cop Community Association members at their headquarters at Taman Rasi Jaya.
He said patrolling used to be held three to four times a week.
“A group of us, wearing our vests, would ride around on our motorcycles.
“We even had shifts to patrol areas near the wet market, commercial area and residential areas from 9pm to midnight and from 3am to 6am.
“After the National Recovery Plan was implemented, we slowly got back together but our patrols are not as frequent as before.”
Wong, who is also the association’s activity captain, said there were reasons for the lack of patrol activities.
“There was one year when it rained almost daily, so we could not do it regularly.
“During the Hungry Ghost Festival, some people are less inclined to go out at night.
“As most of the members also have day jobs, they would be tired from work and unable to join.
“Slowly, our patrolling activities became less regular.”
Plate Burglars often canvas housing areas to identify houses where inhabitants are elderly or unwell.
MRCCA chairman Chang Weng Hong said those who are still active remain on standby at its Taman Rasi Jaya headquarters.
“We will respond whenever we are needed. Our services also include removal of beehives, catching snakes and helping accident victims.”
Chang, who has been the association chairman since 2014, said thefts and break-ins in Menglembu had reduced since the pandemic.
“It used to be quite bad, especially at the industrial area in Chandar Raya, where metal bars, scraps and drain covers were stolen.
“In early May, a grasscutter broke into a house to steal scrap metal in the evening.
“We received information and managed to catch the thief and handed him over to the police.”
Chang says thefts and break-ins in Menglembu have reduced since the pandemic.
Chang said the group planned to go on more night patrols.
While the patrols would help deter crime, people, especially those living on the same street, have to be vigilant, too.
“Neighbours need to look out for each other.”
He cited how the home of an elderly couple in Taman Ria Bercham was broken into three times in three weeks last May.
The family lost about RM26,000 worth of belongings, including jewellery, mobile phones and household items in addition to personal documents.
On June 1, police arrested three men, aged 33, 39 and 41. They were then charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court.
Two of them pleaded not guilty to robbing the couple while another claimed trial to keeping a stolen mobile phone.
In light of the incident, Bercham Voluntary Security Association chairman Toh Kam Yuan said he would like to conduct more night patrols.
“We will discuss having more night patrols because such activities need volunteers.”
He said while there had been fewer night patrol activities, members were always vigilant.
“We are constantly in contact with each other every day.
“If anyone hears anything about a crime, an accident or someone needing assistance, we will ask around to get someone to help out,” he said, adding that about 20 members were active.
“My team members assisted the police in catching a burglar last year.
“We received a call about the break-in and surrounded the house so that the culprit could not escape,” he said, adding that they made a citizen’s arrest.
Hafizudin said the NGO moved behind the Bercham police station after its previous office was burgled twice.
Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam president Hafizudin Nasarudin said the non-governmental organisation’s former office in Taman Sri Kurau, Bercham, was broken into twice, last October and this January.
The office, which was in a residential corner lot since 2019, didn’t see anything taken in the first attempt, he said.
“The burglars broke in through the back door.
“Our items were gathered but the burglars did not manage to take these away,” he said, believing that the burglars left in a haste due to police presence.
“There have been several incidents in the area and police reports have been lodged.”
In the second incident, various items were carted away, including a television set, printer, projector, speaker, guitar and various other electronic and electrical items.
“This time, they broke our lock and entered through the front door.
“We also lost a folder containing receipts for the year, which was an odd thing to steal.”
The NGO, he said, evaluated the losses at about RM12,000.
Hafizudin said the NGO moved into a new location in Taman Bercham Baru in March.
“We are now located behind the Bercham police station.
“For added security, we have installed CCTV at our new premises to monitor with our mobile phones.”
Hafizudin believed that voluntary community patrols were needed to reduce crime.
“With their presence, criminals will think twice about breaking into houses.”
Police advice
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said large housing areas or new villages with inactive volunteer security teams should restart their services.
Having these voluntary groups could help prevent and lower crime especially in housing areas that were not gated and guarded.
“I understand that some of these groups have become less active since the pandemic.
“Perhaps, it is time for them to reactivate their voluntary services. For housing areas or new villages that do not have such teams, the Residents’ Association or village chiefs can set these up.
“They can meet with our police station chiefs for advice.”
Comm Mohd Yusri says people should also have good relationships with their neighbours and look out for the elderly, unwell or those staying on their own.
Comm Mohd Yusri added that the situation in Perak was under control with a slight drop in break-ins.
“A total 267 cases were reported between January and April. There were 272 cases in the same period last year.
“In Ipoh alone, there were 149 cases between January and April and 152 cases in the same period last year.
“Considering there are hundreds of thousands of houses in the district, the situation is still under control,” he said.
Ipoh, Taiping and Manjung areas are large and are among areas with the highest population in Perak.
He said the police always welcomes information related to any suspicious activity or people.
“If there are suspicious vehicles in a neighbourhood, take a picture or jot down the registration number plate and inform the nearest police station.
“We will have more patrols with police vehicles or motorcycle patrol units.”
Comm Mohd Yusri also said that people with elderly parents living by themselves should invest in security systems.
“Those working outstation or staying elsewhere, if they can afford it, they could spend on improving the security of their parents’ home.
“Burglars often target the elderly, those who are unwell or houses which they have identified as not having young adults,” he said, suggesting also for lights at home to be switched on at night.
“Instal CCTV to monitor the house from mobile phones or an alarm system so that the police can be alerted of any incidents.”
Comm Mohd Yusri said the people should always be vigilant of their surroundings and not reveal what they are doing, which can create opportunities for criminals.
“I understand a lot of people nowadays like to take photographs or video clips of what they are doing and post these on social media.
“They are revealing information to criminals, which could be used to create opportunities for them to commit crime,” he said.
He also suggested that people should have good relationships with their neighbours and to always look out for one another, especially if the neighbour is elderly, unwell or disabled and are staying on their own.
Comm Mohd Yusri said it would be better for people to keep their valuables in a bank or safe deposit box.
“We do not encourage people to keep much jewellery or money at home.
“Those who are going for holidays, alert the nearest police station so that we can schedule regular patrols in the area while those with newspaper subscriptions should ask their vendors to stop delivery while they are away.”
Comm Mohd Yusri warned pawn shops or recycling centre operators not to buy stolen goods or “cooperate” with burglars and thieves.
“If any pawn shops or recycling centres are found to be working with them, their licenses will be revoked immediately,” he said.
These premises, he added, have standard operating procedures when dealing with valuables and certain recyclable items.
He urged operators to report to the police about any suspicious behaviour by those looking to sell.
