Be Careful In JB?

[Pnut]

Dear fellow forum members,

 

I do not post much, but I bring to you the following account of an event that just happened to me less than 12 hours ago. I hope this stroke of misfortune will help you in some way or another.

 

As some of you may know, I was working in JB for the past few months on attachment. In the course of my stay there, I got to know of a few locations favoured by Singaporeans for food, and also a stretch of car washes. In particular, I frequented one place along the stretch of Hotel Selasa, turning left in just before Plaza Pelangi. RM8 for a wash and an interior vacuum, with Indian Muslim food stalls just nearby for one to patronise whilst waiting. Nice place to be at, and in addition many Singapore-registered cars went there, giving some sense of security.

 

On 30th April, I took my girlfriend in to JB for a one day break, to patronise a new restaurant in City Square that I promised to take her too, as well as to catch a movie, visit my colleagues and some shopping. The highlight of the day, however, was to get her some of her favourite food from a Chinese store opposite The Store near Taman Sentosa (just a little further up from Plaza Pelangi). However, after our movie and some shopping, it was still just a little after 9pm, and I was still not hungry enough to get eating. So I suggested to get a car wash at the abovementioned location before heading to the Chinese food place.

 

We got there slightly after 10pm, and deposited the car at the usual place. There was a white Singapore-registered Mitsubishi Galant with 2 middle-aged men and a middle-aged woman standing there, waiting for their car to be dried. I decided to cross the small road to a foodstall that looked better than the one right next door to the car wash. As we crossed one lane of the road, a motorcycle U-turned about 10 metres to my left, seemingly to head off to our right. As we crossed the second lane, my girlfriend stumbled and exclaimed, and I thought she tripped.

 

To my horror, I turned and saw the same motorcyclist riding off with my girlfriend's bag. The same bag containing her wallet (NRIC and bank cards), passport, 2 mobile phones (hers and my other phone that I passed to her as it had roaming but she did not), and various other items.

 

Rashly, I gave chase in a bid to retrieve her bag. After all, her passport and NRIC were there, which were invaluable items in a foreign land. I sprinted with all my might, though it was not much, trying to catch a glimpse of the registration plate at the same time. The motorcyclist had stopped at the junction about a hundred metres to our right, and I felt I had a chance of catching him as he waited to enter the heavy traffic flow of the main road.

 

It was to no avail. Pass the junction I ran, and for another good 50 metres, but I had lost sight of him by then. All this while, I knew I took a gamble of leaving my girlfriend alone there, in hope that my fellow Singaporeans would look out for her. I made my way back to her side as quickly as I could.

 

To my dismay, I found her standing alone on the pavement near where she got robbed. The Singaporeans were glued to the spot where I first saw them, staring and pointing at my distraught girlfriend. Granted, there were a good 20 other people around, and no one else did anything at all.

 

The worst was yet to come, however. As I stood with my girlfriend near the crime scene, catching my breath and calling my Malaysian colleagues for directions to the nearest police station, 2 more motorcycles came past us, slowing down enough to shout at me(or us),"CB! CB! CB!"

 

I will omit the rest of the details for the night, as it was just a matter of going through the procedures of reporting the case to the Malaysian police and Immigration departments. Just 2 shocking discoveries later on, as we made our way back home:

 

1. We were informed by the Immigration Officer at JB that he alone encountered at least 4 Singaporean cars with passengers being victims to snatch theft cases that night.

 

2. We were later informed by the Immigration Officer in Singapore as well that ICA Woodlands received several other similar reports.

 

I may be jumping to conclusions that the latter 2 motorcyclists were related to the snatch theft, but please beware and be careful, these few days in particular, of that area. It may be useful to note that one of my Malaysian colleagues got robbed at knifepoint twice in a month near Plaza Pelangi. Perhaps there is some sort of organised crime going on there.

 

I hope this helps someone, especially fellow members with families.

[Nazaki]

Yep, its done by organised crime..

[Boxster]

Sorry to hear about your bad encounter.

10 -15 yrs my mum also come across such robbers. But lucky her bag very heavy and the strap snap. The bag (wif the whole family's passport) drop onto the ground.

I believe this doesn't happen at certain places. It happens all over Malaysia especially places popular with S'porean. It can happen along road side when you just park by the road and get down while closing the car door they will just come and snatch the bag away. If possible, next time the ladies try not to carry hand bags slung across the shoulder and carry minimal things.

[Maersk1]

thanks for the info bro...

 

have to stay alert at all times esp in JB !

[Carforun]

Don't go there to be one of the victims.

[Typhoon125]

Never been to JB for years, hope your girlfriend is fine, during the entire robbery, their friends watching you, I am glad you didn't managed to chase down the bike, take care..............

[Furrynadz]

just avoid JB. period

[Cklasse]

Yep! I don't go JB. It is not worth the car wash, cheap food...JB has become a cowboy town.

[Ccssgm]

Especially......Holiday......

[Furrynadz]

must keep a big crowbar or maglite in car

use to smash some coconut heads

[Nutty]

Singaporeans are like walking money tree over there.

 

Try to dress and behave like a local.

 

Do not talk, our accent will give us away.

 

Do not flaunt our wealth and accessories.

 

Drive a lao pok gai car in.

[Ccssgm]

Dun Drive In.......Take Bus In .....

[Nutty]

Dun go JB, go Jalan Besar better...

[Ccssgm]

[Icekitten]

If possible, next time the ladies try not to carry hand bags slung across the shoulder and carry minimal things.

 

Whenever I visit JB and walk along the roadside, I make sure to carry my handbag on the arm nearer to the pavement side, just as a precaution. When I'm in the car, I make sure windows are always up and doors are always locked.

[Subutai]

Sorry to hear that bro... if I am there, I will definitely help you.

 

A lesson learnt and a painful one too. I was robbed before also by a fella claiming to be Aids infected with a syringe filled with blood in his hand. (Ended up giving him SGD20 only, cos thats the cash I have, lucky that he didn't ask for phones or jewellery).

 

 

Some advices (bros, feel free to add)

- when changing money, look around and only take out $$ at the exchange shop counter. (Don't count count in the public, be alert!!)

- Don't leave your car engine on while you are away from it, if needed, make sure your passenger lock it after you step out.

- ladies to use a sturdy bag and preferbly sling it tight under arm and away from passing vehicles to prevent snatch thieves.

- Don't mess around with your phones unless you have autoroam and is necessary (I have seen kids with flashy phones playing games or hoping to get a signal when they are so far from the causeway)

- Lesser or NO jewellery (no need to parade there one, only those who wants them will look at you)

- Keep your wallets in your pockets (preferbly in your side pockets or squash it in your back pocket.

- Look around before you alight and board your vehicles.

- Lock your vehicle immediately after boarding or alighting.

- Avoiding parking at backalleys and corners /'ulu spots' at shopping centre's car parking.

- Guys have the responsiblity to look after their ladies, that includes waiting for them outside the ladies or whatever.

- Guys - LOCK the door and PEE IN THE CUBICLES (if possible)

- Don't be a stuck up and talk as if Malaysians own you a living cos you are spending $$ there. Talk nice.

- Don't bribe the police and don't take their word that the whatever counter is closed and they help you pay if you pass them $$.

[Kb27]

If you need to visit JB, avoid those areas you mentioned; from Jl Wong Ah Fook, City Plaza right up to Sentosa, Holiday Plaza. These areas are frequented by Sgporeans which makes for a good picking. Lots more Sgporean unfortunately doesn't give security, in fact, it is the other way round.

They are riddled with criminals, petty thiefs and robbers.

 

There are motorbike gangs as well. If you happened to even touch one of those, you might find yourself surrounded by gangs and forced to give money.

[Hiphiphoray]

When in Rome...do what the Romans do.....and u will be fine.

 

Everyday.....tens & thousands of ppl go-in & out of Jbee. Ppl studying & working in Spore and going back to Jbee at nite.

 

And they go on FOOT....1000 times more risky than U. But yet they are safe from the robbers.

 

Cheap food, cheap services, cheap everything in Jbee still can patronise...but pre-cautious must be exercise at all times. And u will be fine.