KOTA KINABALU: A meatball factory owner in Penampang lost his vehicle to a carjacker while a woman had nearly fallen victim at a petrol station in Menggatal town yesterday.
The 26-year-old victim, who wished to be known as Chong, had got off his Toyota Vigo to close a canopy at his factory when his vehicle was driven off by a man.
Chong said he drove his double cabin vehicle to his meatball factory at HSK industrial area in Penampang around 2pm yesterday.
As it was raining heavily, he reversed his vehicle into the factory so that his workers could load the goods onto the back of his Vigo. After the workers finished loading the meatballs, Chong got off his vehicle to close the canopy.
That was when a man climbed into the vehicle and sped off.
The victim later lodged a police report.
According to witnesses nearby, there was a suspicious car parked near the Vigo. It was believed that the suspect seized the opportunity to steal the car when Chong got off his vehicle.
The registration number of the white Vigo is SS 9819T.
Meanwhile, the woman who almost became a victim of car-jacking, advised motorists in the state to bring along their car key when leaving their vehicle to pay for fuel at petrol stations.
Julia, who went shopping at Menggatal town last weekend with her family, said her family’s experience was very scary, and it was a wake-up call for her entire family to be extra careful in the future.
“After shopping at Menggatal town, we stopped at a petrol station to refuel. My husband was driving at that time. He left the key in the car because my two children and I were inside.
“Only a few seconds after my husband left to pay at the counter, a tall man wearing a cap came into our vehicle and tried to start the car. I was shocked and immediately screamed. I pushed the man and honked the car horn to get attention.
“The man was very calm and slowly opened the door and left. He walked to his car and drove off. It happened very fast and I was very traumatized. I feel unsafe in my own hometown now that this happened to me,” she added.
Julia said even though she was a very careful woman, the incident that she read about in the newspapers still happened to her.
After making a police report, Julia hoped that the person who tried to steal their car would be caught by the authority.
She further cautioned all drivers to be more careful and to lock their cars when paying for their fuel at any petrol stations.
“I hope this incident will not happen again in the future,” she added.