Brickfields, PJ record highest smash-and-grab robberies

Between Jan and Nov of 2012, seventy cases were recorded in Petaling Jaya and 62 cases reported in Brickfields.

According to Kuala Lumpur Crime Investigation Department deputy head, ACP Khairi Ahrasa, such incidents most often occur due to the negligence of the drivers who place valuables — such as handbags, cameras and laptops — on the passenger seat.

He also said that 90 per cent of the victims of such cases were women.

“Crime often happens when the opportunity is unintentionally created by the victims themselves,” said Khairi.

KHAIRI: Snatch theft incidents most often occur due to negligence

Although Brickfields is regarded as a 'hot-spot' for crime, other areas are similarly affected.

In Kuala Lumpur alone, three other districts have recorded a high number of smash-and-grab cases.

Putrajaya has a clean record while Cheras has 40 cases, Sentul 26 cases while Dang Wangi recorded five cases between January and November in 2012, he said. In total, 133 cases were recorded during that period in Kuala Lumpur.

SMASHED: Vehicles involved in smash-and-grab robberies

Khairi explained that such cases often occur at traffic light junctions. Hotspots in Kuala Lumpur, he said, were located at Jalan Tun Razak, Bukit Jalil, Sungai Besi, Bandar Tun Razak, Taman Maluri, Jalan Duta and Jalan Ipoh.

In the Brickfields district, the targeted areas were Jalan Maarof, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Jalan Travers, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Sri Hartamas, Taman OUG and Happy Garden.

Meanwhile, Selangor, too, is not spared with a total of 125 cases recorded within the same period.

Selangor CID chief, SAC Mohd Adnan Abdullah said 70 cases were recorded in Petaling Jaya. The other areas were Ampang (25), Gombak (9), South Klang (6), Subang Jaya (5), Kajang (4), Shah Alam (2), North Klang (2) and Serdang (2).

"If you look at the breakdown of the cases, this crime is not concentrated in one area alone but it is scattered over large areas mainly in Petaling Jaya and Ampang," said Adnan.

ADNAN: Most cases occur at traffic lights during peak hours

"Most of these crimes occur at traffic lights during peak hours between 6am to 11am and 4pm to 8pm."

Traffic junctions in the Ampang district considered as hot spots are Taman Melawati, Pandan Indah, Ampang Point, Bukit Teratai and Taman Kencana.

Adnan added that criminals are usually on motorcycles and wait for their target when they stop at traffic lights.

They would then break the windows by using items such as spark plugs, hammers and helmets before fleeing with the victim's belongings.

Victims, meanwhile, are often too stunned to do anything.

Also read: Snatch theft: Stubborn women, persistent men