Crime rate down but fear of snatch thefts, break-ins go up

PETALING JAYA: While crime may have dropped by 45%, more Malaysians have become afraid of snatch thefts and break-ins, a crime watchdog revealed.

In a report by The Star, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Lee Lam Thye said the public’s fear of crime jumped to 80% from 70% last year, with many citing snatch thefts and break-ins as the most feared.

The increase was documented in the National Transformation Programme Annual Report 2015, unveiled two days ago.

While Lee applauded the efforts of the police to tackle crime, he said it was necessary to address the public’s fear, which according to the report the government wanted to reduce by 10% this year.

Lee suggested more plainclothes police be deployed in areas prone to snatch thefts and called for motorcycle patrol units to conduct more regular rounds in housing areas.

“Their presence can help deter robbers,” the English daily quoted him as saying.

According to the report, initiatives such as the Safe City Programme, the Omnipresence programme and the Community Policing Programme did significantly reduce the crime index.

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