KUCHING: Vehicle theft victims in Padawan have been advised to immediately contact the nearest police station before filing a police report.
Padawan District police chief Supt Aidil Bolhassan said it is very important for the victims to inform the police first, even by phone, so immediate action could be taken.
“Unlike before, there is no need for you to go home to fetch your green card before you file a police report.
“You can inform any of the police stations first so that the alert tone could be sent out to the other police district offices (IPD) for immediate action,” he said after witnessing the handover of duty to newly-appointed Padawan District police deputy chief DSP Mervin Lisa yesterday.
He said once the IPDs had received the alert tone, they could even dispatch their mobile units to carry out surveillance.
Aidil said if the victims were to go home first just to take their green cards to file police reports, the chances of recovery would be lower.
“So before reporting your vehicle stolen, call the nearest police station to provide them the necessary details of your vehicle,” he said.
“Your immediate action would increase the chances for the police to find the stolen vehicles or the thieves.”
He said motorcycle theft cases in Padawan shot up by more than 50 per cent in the first quarter of this year with 155 bikes stolen from January to March, compared with 68 cases in the same period last year.
Among the motorcycles stolen, the Yamaha 125 and Honda EX5 models were the favourites.
Aidil revealed that police districts in Kuching, Samarahan and Padawan would carry out a joint operation to identify the most common areas for motorcycle thefts in their districts.
“I have met the Kuching and Samarahan district police chiefs recently and we have all agreed to carry out a big scale operation together.
“We will launch it simultaneously in our respective areas,” he said.
Overall, a total of 192 cases of vehicle (lorry, van, car and motorcycle) thefts were reported in Padawan in the first quarter of this year.
Of that number, only 40 per cent of the stolen vehicles were recovered.
Aidil said many of the stolen vehicles recovered, especially motorcycles, had been stripped of parts which were sold as spare parts.
He reminded riders to keep their motorcycles safe, recommending double locks for parked bikes.