Broad Daylight Theft - Ara Damansara

shared by Bev Stubbs

I wish to share with you an incident that occurred to me this afternoon, the 14th August, in PJU1A / 20b.

I am a retired UK expat who has been living in Ara Damansara for the past 3½ years.

Recently I have taken up cycling to combat the onset of those unwanted additional kilos and to build up my fitness.

So this afternoon at around 2.30, for the first time, instead of driving down to the shops I decided to ride my bike.

I took a rucksack to carry the chain I would use to attach my bike to a suitable anchor and unusually I placed my wallet (containing cash, ATM and credit cards), phone and house keys in the rucksack. I say unusually because my normal modus operandi would be to place my wallet and phone in separate pockets of my cargo pants and the keys in a side pocket. Today, however, I was not wearing cargo pants so they all went in the rucksack.

I slowly cycle down to the shops and found a suitable signpost pole to use as an anchor for the bike, on the corner of Jalan PJU1A/20b and 20c, which is in full view of all in the vicinity. I place the bike against the pole, took off my rucksack, removed the chain and placed the rucksack on the ground directly beside my feet. I proceeded to chain the bike to the pole and had only been there for a matter of one or two minutes when I became aware of a slight draught at my ankles. I looked down to see that my rucksack had disappeared. I looked up and saw a man with my rucksack running towards Jalan PJU1A/1 where his accomplice was waiting on a motorbike so that they could make their get away. I gave chase to the thief but I never had a chance to catch him as he had at least a 15 meter start on me.

This snatch was made in mid afternoon in broad daylight, with many people present who witnessed the incident and the rucksack was taken from right at my feet. A very audacious act, by people who obviously consider that the reward is worth the risk as there is little risk of getting caught.

I have been an expat for more years than I care to admit and have worked in many countries both in the Middle East and South East Asia. I have, with out doubt, enjoyed my time in Malaysia, which I believe is a very fortunate country endowed with friendly citizens, natural resources, dramatic scenery and for me a great climate so it is with sadness that my positive feeling for this country has been tainted by my experience to day.

I hope the above will help to make people aware of the dangers that lurk at all times and in some small way avert an incident similar to mine.

Best Regards
Bev Stubbs