SNATCH thieves have become more daring. They strike even before victims leave their houses.
Last week, an incident was reported in our neighbourhood. A resident was in her car and about to leave for work, when a man opened the passenger door and snatched her handbag.
It happened very fast, there was nothing she could do but to watch helplessly as the thief sped off on a motorcycle. An alert was immediately posted on the online local community network, but that’s about all we could do at that time. Similar snatch thefts have been reported before. Many of them occurring along the streets, quiet stretches of service roads and five-foot pathways.
Snatch thieves have been known to ride their motorcycles onto sidewalks to snatch handbags and valuables. Occasionally they smash car windows when victims stop at traffic lights or petrol stations.
A recent incident that went viral showed a snatch thief smashing a car window to steal a handbag while the woman was inflating her car tyres.
While we agree that we often throw caution to the wind, especially when we are in familiar places like our home, one thing has become distinct.
Snatch thieves are coming to our doorstep and hitting us when we least expect it.
With them prowling in the vicinity, our neighbourhoods have become less safe. It’s unfortunate that the security guards manning the main gates are usually the last ones to know and respond to such incidents.
Studies showed that snatch thefts are not synonymous to a particular race or class of people. It is committed by people of all backgrounds, and its effects are felt by all, not just those directly affected by the crime.
We keep asking why people commit such crimes. The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation revealed that 70 per cent of snatch theft cases reported nationwide involved drug addicts and, according to the Prisons Department, 55.4 per cent of its inmates in 2015 are drug offenders.
It is very sad to note that last year, the National Anti-Drugs Agency recorded 30,847 drug addict cases, an increase from 26,668 in 2015. It is estimated that 70 people in the country become new addicts daily.
Based on statistics, there is a correlation between snatch thefts and drug addiction.
This is alarming. Drug addiction and substance abuse not only pose a threat to the wellbeing of society, but also saps the government’s coffers.
It has been reported that around RM8.6 billion had been spent to tackle drug issues in 2009. The government is spending much more now, given the increasing number of new addicts. The rehabilitation and prevention programmes, too, have obviously not been effective, judging by the increase in new cases last year.
With the current economic situation, we are tempted to link crime with the high cost of living.
Let’s look at our economic factor. The cost of living has risen 10-fold in the Klang Valley.
Roadside stalls are selling a plate of char kway teow for RM8 compared with RM3.50 five years ago. A double-storey terrace house now costs more than half a million ringgit, depending on locality. The unemployment rate among youths is three times more than the national unemployment rate of 3.1 per cent.
This is due to slower growth in hiring, according to Bank Negara in its annual report last year.
In 2015, the unemployment rate among youths was estimated at 10.7 per cent. Apparently, the unemployment rate for young graduates is also higher than non-graduates.
On top of that, some 31,500 employees in Malaysia were laid off between January and September last year. According to figures from the Human Resources Ministry, 55 per cent were normal layoffs while 45 per cent was via voluntary separation schemes.
In 2015, about 44,350 employees were laid off. The layoffs, which could not be avoided, were caused by various factors, among them was instability in the national and global economies.
Acquisitions of companies, restructuring of organisations and mergers aggravated the situation.
The recent snatch theft case in my neighbourhood is just one sombre story of desperation. If people are facing difficulties to feed themselves, some may resort to crime. The incident also reminded me to continue working relentlessly as a community, together with the authorities, to prevent drug and substance abuse.
Look around us, we may find addicts within our midst, who need our help. They may just be our friends, relatives or even family members.
**The writer is a former Associate Professor at the Language of Academy Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam.