MELAKA: Melaka police have expressed alarm over an increasing trend of snatch thieves targeting lone female drivers at traffic light stops.
State police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said the force would step up effort against the perpetrators, but also urged female drivers to be alert of their surroundings.
"These thieves will first peek through potential victim's car window to see if the handbag is placed at the front passenger seat.
"If the door is not locked, then they will attempt to open the door and grab the victim's handbag.
"But if the door is locked, they will smash the car window to get it," he told a press conference at the state police headquarters in Bukit Beruang here.
Abdul Jalil also advised female drivers to refrain from placing handbags on the front passenger seat to avoid becoming an easy target for snatch thieves.
"Female drivers should hide their handbags underneath their car seat or anywhere that is not visible from the outside.
"We are reminding the public to be cautious because the trend is increasing in Melaka.
"But no worries, our department is working out ways to prevent these cases from recurring," said Abdul Jalil.
Earlier this month, a teacher from SMK Malim fell prey to a smash and grab incident in Peringgit.
The 29-year-old woman was robbed when she stopped her car at a traffic light junction near the Melaka Sentral bus terminal.
In an unrelated case, Abdul Jalil said police arrested two men, believed to be drug pushers, at a house in Kampung Krubong on Wednesday.
The duo, who were tested positive for drugs, had a total of 16 drug-related and criminal records.
He said police seized from them five plastic packets containing 158 grams of heroin, a tin containing 230 grams of heroin, a packet containing 100 amphetamines pills (also known locally as ‘yaba’ pill) and a packet containing 15 grams of syabu.
He said both suspects are being held for seven days until July 12, to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 for drug trafficking.