If you’re not fortunate enough to be living in a gated and guarded community, or you don’t live in a condo, then you’ve probably heard of a security patrol team by your local Residents’ Association. These have mushroomed all over our urban residential areas or housing estates in recent years.
In the past, there was never a need for such things and I’ve never heard of them before but now, you can see security patrols by guards hired by residence patroling the housing areas. A sure sign that crime is on the rise. Many homes now carry stickers that their house is subscribing to a certain security patrol, paying an extra RM30 to RM40 a month if I am not mistaken. My house is one of them.
However, I wonder how everyone feels about this. We feel that we want very much to improve the security in our area and that is why we dutifully pay the subscription fee for extra security surveillance. We feel that since it is a community kind of thing, it will only be successful, if everyone contributes or does their part by subscribing and so we subscribe faithfully even though, its hard for us to even pay up and after paying we don’t even have a receipt.
The excuse is that since the team is manned by volunteers and so… we’re not to have overly high expectations (like getting a receipt?). Oh well…. We do receive quarterly reports about the security in our area and we feel a (perhaps a wrong) sense of security seeing the guards patrolling our area in their motorbikes and cars and having an emergency number to call, just in case.
Yesterday, I met a friend who stays in a “crime zone” (which area isn’t that now). His neighbour’s houses had been broken in (both side and opposite). He does not subscribe to the security surveillance service that is available though. His feeling is. “What is the point anyway?” Besides, “you don’t even know if the security team is in cahorts with the burglars or thieves.” he added.
I wonder what does everyone else feel about such security patrols? Are you paying extra for it? How do you feel about this? Do you think it has reduced crime?
I keep on receiving scary emails about people being hijacked from their cars and houses being broken into. I know some of these emails may not be true but some of them come from people we actually know. I used to feel safer living in a condo but apparently even living in a condo is not safe anymore. The other day, I visited the old condo where I used to live. The maintenance person there told us that they are now stepping up security to have the guards going around floor by floor every hour because of crime. According to the guy some tenants do not like this but they have no choice. The burglars now come from within ie the modus operandi is to rent the premise for a few months, then strike when their neighbours are out.
Almost everyone I know has witness a crime or has had some personal experience. I feel so unsafe. The other day, I happened to be eating at the roadside with my handbag (I normally don’t carry my handbag when I eat at the roadside) and I was very distracted throughout my meal because I have to keep on clutching my handbag close to me and glancing around every few minutes. (I’ve had friends whose had their handphones or bags snatched while they were enjoying their meal, thats why I have this paranoia). Afterall, crime happens partly because of opportunity and we can reduce that opportunity by being more aware of our surroundings and it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful, right? Can you tell me what you have done to reduce the opportunity of crime to your person, car and home?
Seriously, such measures may not be full-proof. The only way to prevent crime is NOT to attract it. Being cautious, is the only way, double check the door is locked everytime you leave the house, make sure your valuables are not left in the car where the thief can see and most importantly don’t wear so many glittering jewelleries on oneself like ornaments on a christmas tree….
if after such measures, things still happen….then its just plain unlucky, can’t blame oneself.
I don’t deck myself like a christmas tree but I’m still afraid….
No measure is def fool proof. You have to also have precautionary measures in place and be smart about it all lah.
We subscribe to the service and I have been very glad to have it. They’ve been very reliable and great. Crime def has dropped since their inception. We also have a very determined and dedicated committee so that makes a big difference.
You can’t tell if they are in cahoots but it’s not like you can rely on the cops either and cops have been known to be in cahoots.
To me, it’s an extra security feature I like. if our house alarms go off, they go and check. They have chased criminals and caught em. That’s prob why I will continue to subscribe to it. Its just extra peace of mind. They screen who comes in and out now really.
I’d rather rely on them than the cops these days sigh. I dont agree with your friend reg: the security thing but something has to be done mah.
Yes, I agree with you. We should at least try to do something instead of merely feeling complete apathy for the whole situation.
cant give much suggestion coz hubby & I opted to pay slightly more getting a place within gated & guarded community, and we are quite comfortable here…
it’s true that the crime rate has gone far too much higher than what we can expect, so we just have to be very alert at all times lor…
Unfortunately not everyone can afford to live in gated community. Even then its not 100% as there could be inside jobs, the guards themselves, tenants etc.
These days, even petrol and groceries can kena curi but the politicians/govt officials concern themselves more with who’s screwing who, who’s blowing up who and who can get the bigger piece of the pie. Fed up of this bickering and sandiwara. I’d wanna see some REAL changes, not blathering talk.
Can you tell lI’m annoyed? LOL People need to complain more and not accept substandard crap. You can be firm/polite but just not take this crap lah. Then changes will happen in govt.
Malaysians are notorious for their apathy unfortunately. sigh.
Yes, I can tell you are annoyed. Haha. Our political scene now is worse than a soap opera.
Ya ya (to Lia’s comment), my friend’s groceries kena stolen..she was flabbergasted! Coz all it had were tictacs and some junk food!
WAKAKAKAAKAKAKAKAKAKAAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAK!!!
Again, going mad!
Alamak, groceries stolen better than wallet, i.c and credit card stolen rite anot?
about patrol surveillance, it cross my mind, though, if those patrol people werent the very people who lure maids as a tool to aid their criminal intent. A person remarks this once and it stuck in my head forever, and till today, i still wonder it its a good thing. We have security guards patrolling our area and we once have a maid who walk around in only her bra and panties every day at 6am in the kitchen hoping to attract them. We send her back upon discovery, but maids aside (we had many funny ones in our span of 8 -10 years hiring maids after maids), is patrol surveillance a good thing after all? Do they chat up the maids? I have seen our earlier ones ta-pau-ing food for the maid at the corner house once.
But to return to your note, we install a burglar alarm system as a deterent.
Its really quite a common sight now, maids and security guards. I guess the trick is to try to keep them away from each other?
My area has started having this type of services. So far I have not heard complaining, coz previously there were a few houses in our neighbourhood got broken into. But these days none so far ever since the patrol guard came.
The other night my husband and a friend were chatting outside the house, then one of the house’s (few houses away) alarm was somehow triggered off, and they saw this guard on duty quickly went to check the front and back of that house. They were impressed, at least they know these guards are doing their job. I hope the good work continues.
However, some of the residents refused to subscribe to the service. Sometimes, I feel a bit sad because the neighbourhood(and ours isn’t that big after all) needs co-operate to make things happen, since the police authority has failed us.
So the committee took the effort to print out the car stickers and give us one yellow sign each house to be hanged on our house gate(only for those who subscribe to the service).
For my family’s safety sake, I’m willing to pay extra.
Yah lor Dolphine. Without the support of the community the patrol surveillance will fail. 🙁