KUALA LUMPUR: Seven youngsters have been arrested following a series of robberies by teenage gangs on foreigners, particularly expatriates in the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre recently.
Police have swung into action, increasing patrols and deploying officers on foot in the areas as well as conducting continuous operations to track down the young offenders.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commisioner Zainol Samah said the average crime rate in the area mainly around Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Pinang and around Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) showed only four reports which were lodged by expatriates who were robbed by youths.
"We have cracked three of the four cases with the arrest of seven youths aged between 14 and 17 and they had been brought to the court under Section 395 for gang robbery," he said.
However, Zainol said police are still investigating on the most recent case which occurred around 8pm on May 16, when a 43-year old Italian man had been attacked by a group of 15 teenage boys and girls as he was walking along Jalan Kia Peng.
"In the attack, the victim claimed that the teenagers had punched and kicked him in the stomach and searched his pockets to steal his iPhone 6," he said adding that the man was then left on the sidewalk and had sustained injuries on his face as a result of the attack.
An expatriate had revealed that it is a common knowledge of residents in the high rise condominiums in the area, particularly expatriates, that these teenage gangs are on the prowl in the area and usually prey on foreigners.
The source also claims that the rate of such attacks is alarmingly frequent.
"We are aware of the groups of teenagers hanging around these areas and have been monitoring them but not all of them are associated with such crimes. However, we will increase our surveillance in the area," he said.
Zainol added that the other three cases were reported by expatriates and a tourist.
"In one case, a Spanish married couple was mugged in Jalan Kia Peng by a group of 14 teenagers at about 8.40pm in January. The suspects had taken their bag which contained cash, credit cards and license and had punched the wife in the face," he said.
He added that with the help from the public who witnessed the incident, police managed to detain three of them aged between 15 and 17.
"In the second case which also occurred in Jalan Kia Peng last month around the same time, two boys aged 14 and 15 had mugged a British man of his mobile phone and were caught in their attempt to escape," Zainol said.
In another case,two youngsters aged 14 and 16 were detained after snatching a 64-year old American tourist smartphone as he was walking along the road.
"The victim was surrounded by eight teenagers when one of them snatched his phone. He then chased the suspects to KLCC and with the help of a security guard, two of them were detained," he said,
The youths have all been charged in court, Zainol added.
Meanwhile, police have detected two groups who are involved in the 'teen gang' movement.
"We are in the midst of gathering information and keeping a closer eye on the area to catch these punks," he said.