BBRAeNEWS No.208 - Street Crime Prevention Tips.

Dear Residents,

Street Crimes Prevention Tips.

Every Saturday, BBRA will bring you an article on Street Crimes. This would serve as a prevention tips and how to avoid.

The Star Newspaper
Monday August 24, 2009
Snatch theft victim mourns loss of a friend

JOHOR BARU: Both Kamurummisah Mohd Kassim and R. Prathiraj have known each other since primary school and even worked at the same fast food outlet in Singapore.
Days after Prathiraj died in a snatch-theft attempt, the 24-year-old waitress is finding it hard to deal with her loss.
“I still cannot accept the fact that my good friend is no longer alive. He was a very quiet person, who avoided getting into trouble,” she said of her friend.
Kamurummisah said she and Prathiraj were on their way home on a motorcycle after work at a McDonald’s outlet when the incident occurred at 6.30am along Jalan Bakar Batu here on Aug 15.


Tragic victims: Kamurummisah recuperating from a broken arm, leg and facial injuries and Prathiraj (inset), who died after being in a coma for two days.

“I have been working there for more than two years. But it was the first time I accepted a lift from him because his friend who usually followed him to work had called in sick,” she said when met at home in Masai recently.
Kamurummisah said they had just turned off at a traffic lights junction when two men on a motorcycle appeared beside them and tried to snatch her bag from the front basket.
She said Prathiraj refused to let go of the bag and instead, tried to catch up with the culprits when one of them kicked at their motorcycle.
“He managed to control his motorcyle from falling onto the road but lost control of it and rammed into a tree.
“I freed myself and tried to revive Prathiraj but he was motionless with blood around his eyes and nose,” she said, adding that passers-by later called for an ambulance.
Prathiraj died of head injuries at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital at 10.20am the following day.
Kamurummisah, who suffered from a broken hand, leg and bruises to her face, described her experience as a nightmare.
“Everything happened so fast. I hope the police will catch those responsible as many people have become victims of snatch thefts. This is the first time I have been involved in one,” she said.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaacob said police were conducting operations to nab the suspected snatch thieves and urged those with information to contact the hotline at 07-221-2999.