LABUAN: A 47-year-old businesswoman lost RM17,000 when her handbag containing the money was stolen on Feb 6 around 9.30am.
Labuan police chief Superintendent Saiman Kasran, who revealed the incident yesterday, said the victim had just opened her shop at the Financial Park then and placed her handbag under the counter.
As she was doing something at the back, she noticed somebody running out of her shop, which prompted her to look for her handbag but it was gone, he said, adding that the woman and a security guard tried in vain to chase after the thief.
Saiman said the handbag not only contained the money, which was the previous day’s takings from the victim’s three shops, but also her documents.
He said she had planned to bank in the money on that day but the banks were closed as it was a public holiday.
In a separate incident on Feb 5, a man from Miri, Sarawak who is working for a company here, learnt the hard way never to create an opportunity for someone to steal when he lost his wallet and cellphone to a snatch thief.
The 36-year-old victim had placed his wallet and cellphone on an automated teller machine (ATM) keypad at Labuan International Ferry Terminal when the incident happened around midnight.
According to Saiman, the victim was at the ATM through which he had wanted to make a withdrawal from his bank account.
The victim put his wallet and cellphone on the ATM keypad but a man behind him snatched them and escaped, he said, adding that the victim could not do anything as it all happened in the blink of an eye.
Besides, the lamps around the ATM booth were not functioning then, he said.
The victim estimated his loss at RM1,800 and the case is investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code.
Saiman reminded the public to be more cautious in handling their valuables and not to give any opportunity for others to steal.
He said the public should contact the police at 087-412222 or through rakancop if they have any information on criminal activities.