These petty criminals are getting away Scot free
and residents are starting to worry for their safety.
Recalling the incident that had occurred at
about 9.50am on board SBS Transit bus service number 62 to The New Paper,
STOMPer Kim Soon said that two men had boarded the bus at Macpherson Road. One
of the men who was described as 'very tall and obese' joined Kim Soon in the
back row of seats while the other sat another seat away. The plump man fell
asleep and leaned against the STOMPer. It was through this close body contact
that allowed the pickpocket to gain access to Kim Soon's wallet.
Kim Soon said:
"Although I felt uneasy with the body contact, I didn't bother to wake him up."
It was only after the two men alighted at Aljunied Station that the STOMPer felt something was amiss. Despite the bus being relatively empty, he thought it was strange that both men choose to sit beside him. Upon checking his trousers to make sure his wallet was still there, he was shocked to find a hole in the back pocket. $100 in $50 and $10 denominations were gone.
Kim Soon then decided to stay on the bus to return home to Hougang to change his pants since bus 62 is a loop service. It went back to Aljunied Station about 20 minutes later, and the two men boarded the bus again. Kim Soon recognised them immediately. Realizing that this was his opportunity to nab them and recover his money, he got up from his seat and approached the bus driver.
He said:
"I told the bus driver that I had been pick pocketed earlier and asked him to close the bus doors so that the two pickpockets could not escape."
"When the obese guy saw me approaching him after speaking to the driver, he ran past me towards the front door, which was open as people were still boarding the bus."
Kim Soon managed to grab the alleged pickpocket's bag and a struggle ensued as the pickpocket tried to claim his bag back. Upon snatching his bag back from the STOMPer, the pickpocket slammed his body against the closed door of the SBS bus and managed to force it open. The man then fled. His accomplice also managed to alight to the bus and ran away later.
The STOMPer has made a police report at the Paya Lebar Neighbourhood Police Post, a police spokesperson confirmed the report and said investigations were ongoing. Kim Soon said that this is the first time that he had been pickpocketed and was disappointed that there wasn't any closed-circuit television cameras on the bus to capture the pickpockets in action.
He said:
"When I was struggling with the obese guy, the other passengers did not come forward to help me."
Kim Soon said:
"Although I felt uneasy with the body contact, I didn't bother to wake him up."
It was only after the two men alighted at Aljunied Station that the STOMPer felt something was amiss. Despite the bus being relatively empty, he thought it was strange that both men choose to sit beside him. Upon checking his trousers to make sure his wallet was still there, he was shocked to find a hole in the back pocket. $100 in $50 and $10 denominations were gone.
Kim Soon then decided to stay on the bus to return home to Hougang to change his pants since bus 62 is a loop service. It went back to Aljunied Station about 20 minutes later, and the two men boarded the bus again. Kim Soon recognised them immediately. Realizing that this was his opportunity to nab them and recover his money, he got up from his seat and approached the bus driver.
He said:
"I told the bus driver that I had been pick pocketed earlier and asked him to close the bus doors so that the two pickpockets could not escape."
"When the obese guy saw me approaching him after speaking to the driver, he ran past me towards the front door, which was open as people were still boarding the bus."
Kim Soon managed to grab the alleged pickpocket's bag and a struggle ensued as the pickpocket tried to claim his bag back. Upon snatching his bag back from the STOMPer, the pickpocket slammed his body against the closed door of the SBS bus and managed to force it open. The man then fled. His accomplice also managed to alight to the bus and ran away later.
The STOMPer has made a police report at the Paya Lebar Neighbourhood Police Post, a police spokesperson confirmed the report and said investigations were ongoing. Kim Soon said that this is the first time that he had been pickpocketed and was disappointed that there wasn't any closed-circuit television cameras on the bus to capture the pickpockets in action.
He said:
"When I was struggling with the obese guy, the other passengers did not come forward to help me."
Prevention
of Pickpocket
1.Refrain from rummaging through your
wallet in public.
While you are looking through your wallet in public, it's easy for someone to snatch it out of your hands and make off with it.
While you are looking through your wallet in public, it's easy for someone to snatch it out of your hands and make off with it.
2. Carrying a
purse/bag.
Having a purse with a zipper in the back will make it easier for someone behind you to unzip your purse and make off with its contents.
Having a purse with a zipper in the back will make it easier for someone behind you to unzip your purse and make off with its contents.
Some safety tips:
- Shorten the strap on any purse or bag you carry.
- Don't dangle the purse loose below your waist. The strap
should be short enough that you can keep the purse and its openings under your
elbow.
- Carry your purse across your chest. If the strap is long enough, put it over your head so the strap runs diagonally across your chest, with the purse itself under your arm.
Adapted from:
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1183244/new_updates_on_stompers_pickpocket_ordeal.html
No comments:
Post a Comment