USE DECOY TO ARREST SNATCH THIEF

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Hardly a week passed, when the husband of a snatch theft victim died in the incident at Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur, another two cases were reported, one in Johore Bahru, when the handbag of a security guard was snatched away, and another in Bangi when a nurse lost her purse to a snatch thief at knife point, Later he rang her up and demanded RM 500 or else he would kill her. (nst Dec.12)
The phenomena is getting from bad to worse. Snatch thieves are getting bolder and dared threatened their victims with death, if their demands were not met.
People are still asking the same million dollar question, how many deaths are going to occur, before the relevant authorities decide on action to put an end to this serious crime. They even demanded for heavier punishment, even a death sentence for snatch thieves.
We already have harsh laws in our criminal justice system, from sentences of imprisonment for a day to natural life, to whipping and hanging, and yet people do not seem to be deterred. Still ,kidnapping, drug smuggling, human trafficking,prostitution , robbery, murder, rape, and above all snatch thieves are on the rise..
While I agree that snatch thieves should be charged for robbery and received a heavier or maximum sentence to deter them from repeat offence, the courts may consider mitigation factors when the accused pleaded for leniency due to personal and compassionate grounds. Thus in a recent conviction of a snatch thief, a guard received only a six year sentence and a lecture from the judge, instead of the maximum sentence of 20 years plus caning ( nst Dec. 9 ).Minus two years for remission, the accused had only to serve four years, which is very light, considering the severity of the offence.
On the other hand how many of these snatch thieves who caused death to their victims have been arrested so far? We all know that it would be difficult for the police to apprehend them for lack of evidence and witnesses. Even the victim after a robbery would be too shocked to cry help let alone take the number of the motorbike.
There are so many policewomen in the force, and I feel that its about time the police make use of them as decoy to arrest these snatch thieves in action. Ops decoy should be launched all over the country and lets see more policemen in civilian patrol the streets on motorbikes . I am sure the snatch thieves will think twice before robbing a woman. with handbags..
The Crime prevention Association, should play its role by advising women not to carry handbags with a lot of cash, jewelry credit and bank cards, address book and hand phones. They should carry MyKad in their pockets ,walk in pairs against traffic. They should always be alert, and be sencetive to the sound of motorbikes .Above all every woman should guard themselves from being robbed, because we simply cannot depend on the police to be everywhere to protect them.
I feel that the government should not ignor public outcry for effective enforcement of the laws and their demand for publuic protection, otherwise it will create a society with bottled up imotions which is dangerous. That is why sometimes we see the public taking the law into their own hands by beating caught snatch thieves to death .