Roslan presents the 24-hour Kuching police hotline number to a business owner. At left is Sih. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: The city’s crime rate index has continued to drop for the sixth year in a row.
Kuching district police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad, who estimated a further 19 per cent drop this year, said this was due to the hard work and commitment of the police combined with strong public cooperation.
Crime cases that showed a marked decrease included housebreakings and motorcycle thefts.
He encouraged the public to contact the authorities regarding any suspicious activities or individuals found acting suspiciously and not wait till a crime has actually been committed.
“Do not be afraid to notify the police if you hear, see or suspect any crime activities going on in your area. For instance, if you know of any illegal gambling outlet in operation, tell us the location and we will go to that place.
“Instead of going to social media to complain about the worsening crime or any grouses, why don’t you come to the police? Perception without proof is difficult to act upon. We need public support,” he told reporters during the ‘High Profile Policing’ programme in Tabuan Jaya yesterday.
Roslan pointed out that individuals on motorcycles or vehicles passing by the neighbourhood repeatedly could be a cause for concern.
“If you notice people surveying your neighbourhood or parked along the street for no apparent reason, which you suspect could be planning a break-in, inform the police immediately.
“We will send a patrol car to investigate. For instance, if the person happens to be a teacher, just waiting for their friends or looking for an address, at least the police have checked the identity and recorded the profile of that person. It is better to have a preventive measure. We want to act on real-time situation,” he stressed.
To encourage tip-offs, Roslan assured that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.
To further reduce the crime rate, he reminded the public to always take care of their belongings and avoid providing opportunities for crime to strike.
He explained that statistics showed many first-time offenders merely took the opportunities presented to them.
On a related note, he advised the public to secure their homes with an alarm system or keep their car keys by their bedside at night so that the alarm could be used to alert neighbours and deter trespassers.
Installing a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system is also good for investigations, while an alarm can help to deter criminals, he said.
The ‘High Profile Policing’ programme requires district police chiefs and senior officers to go the ground to enhance ties with the local community.
During the event, Roslan and his team visited several business premises and handed out informative crime prevention pamphlets.
“We meet up with residential and business communities, finding out any problems faced by the people and see how we can provide assistance,” he said.
Among those present were Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Temenggong Lu Kim Yong and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy secretary-general Sih Hua Tong.
Lu said the local community are content with the policing work here.
Highlighting the importance of building rapport with the police to make Kuching crime free, he said many community leaders worked closely with the police on the ground.