Instal CCTVs, urges Ipoh OCPD - Star

Sept 9, 2008 By CHRISTINA KOH

THE police have urged Ipoh citizens operating businesses and factories to invest in a CCTV system to help deter crime.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias said the system would help the authorities use the captured footage of the suspects during the incidents as evidence in court.

“Another suggestion is to form volunteer neighbourhood patrols,” he said during a crime prevention dialogue in Pasir Pinji, Ipoh, organised by Perak DAP recently.

ACP Azisman said this in response to concerns raised by residents at the perceived lack of security of their neighbourhood in the Pasir Pinji and Pengkalan areas.

One resident related how he had recently been beaten up and robbed on the street, while another man said a snatch thief targeted his wife just 500m from the Pasir Puteh police station in March this year.

Another woman complained about how two Rottweilers guarding her factory ended up missing the next morning.

Residents also expressed fears of stopping their vehicles at traffic lights early in the morning, as robbers tended to prey on them.

“But if I decide to run the red light to avoid being robbed, police might issue me a summons instead,” said one man.

ACP Azisman urged the public to call the Ipoh district operations centre at 05-2451562 or 2451563 to alert police of any criminal activities in their areas.

“Tell us immediately and we will respond within 10 to 15 minutes,” said ACP Azisman, who also reminded residents to report any suspicious activity such as strangers lingering at late hours.

He explained that currently, the district only had 1,400 police officers, including administrative staff, to cater to a population of some 1.5 million people.

“This ratio is very low and not something that we like. Even so, the crime rate in Ipoh has dropped by 8% compared to last year,” he said.

Pasir Pinji assemblyman and state exco member Thomas Su Keong Siong appealed to residents to join the Rakan Cop programme.

Also present were police officials and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang, who registered for the Rakan COP programme.