KOTA KINABALU: A tourist from China lost over RM5,000 in valuables when her handbag was grabbed by snatch thief on a motorbike on Sunday.
The victim, identified only as Zhang, 31, lost identification documents belonging to her and her 26-year-old sister, ATM cards and cash.
She said she had yelled for help and attempted with her sister and two friends to pursue the snatch thieves, but no one came to assist her.
The Zhang sisters visited Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) office here yesterday to relate the incident.
They had arrived in the city from Beijing via Kuala Lumpur on Oct 2 with four female friends and checked into a hotel in Asia City, and visited Manukan and Sapi islands.
After dinner at Asia City on Sunday, the sisters and two of their friends took a stroll and as they neared a hotel in the area, the snatch thief struck while rising pillion on the motorcycle around 8.20pm.
The Zhang sisters also claimed that a man approached them after the snatch thieves had escaped and moved physically too close to them for comfort.
Fortunately, another man soon assisted them and called the police.
The younger Zhang sister, 26, was tramatised over the incident as she said it was the first time they fell victim to a snatch thief.
“We had felt so good about this place when we were at Manukan and Sapi islands yesterday (Sunday). I had planned to bring my mother here for vacation,” she said.
KKCCCI has recorded the Zhang sisters’ case and will bring it to the attention of the its management.