Thefts and Threats-Living in a New Housing Estate

Easy Targets for Asset Rip-offs

The NKRP on Crime Reduction is most rosy on all counts. Yest, everyone knows crime has not abated. In fact, on the contrary. it is on the rise in Malaysia.

Lately, muggings of lady shoppers  in shopping complex car parks has become more rampant. From The Curve to Mid-valley, the dark elements are on a constant move. Almost like living in Gotham City without Batman. There was an abduction at the Curve, a beating up at Mid-Valley  as well as a kidnap at an international school.

A Hollow in the Window

As, usual lies and false statistics are trumpeted out by the authorities. We know better.

One interesting phenomenon is the petty thefts and asset destruction in new housing estates.

Between the time when you officially take the keys to your unit until the time a resident association is formed to look seriously into security, it is anybody's game - a demilitarised Pakmunjong!

I remembered a friend who used to stay in Sri Petaling when it was just built many eons ago. There were not many houses which were occupied then and lalangs grew majestically in that small plot of garden land in each unoccupied house. During one of the evenings after he had  just moved in, a motorcyclist and pillion rider stopped in front of his house and demanded RM50 from him as monthly protection money. Failing which, they showed him a brick which they will throw into his front door glass panel. He paid up pronto, as he did not want no trouble, my friend.

Easy Dough but Dog Days for the Owners

Then we have the petty thieve in connivance with the current foreign guards who will crowbar your casement windows to get in to steal away lightnings, piping fixtures and fans. They are most specific-some will just take away piping; others washing basins and even shower roses.

So, if you intend to buy a house in a new place, do put in your grills and firmly rivet these as well for they can also be fenced off profitably by these petty thieves to greedy middlemen who oftentimes are small-time contractors. Forget about aesthetics in Malaysia, grill every possible entry point.

When things get better, you can remove some of the grills to restore the beauty of the house's design and architecture.

It is also the signs of the times as the economy slows down such crimes moves up. 2H is definitely bad from all the returns of the PLCs on Bursa KL. I think unlisted SME's are faring much worse if they piggy back for business on these listed SMEs.

Do you see Greece, Cyprus and possibly Spain at your door-steps?