Security management flaws may lead to burglaries
The Sun Daily
Charles Ramendran
06 October 2016
PETALING JAYA: Guarded residential buildings like condominiums are not
the safest haven despite the presence of security personnel and
crime-prevention features.
In almost every police district in the Klang Valley, checks showed that
reports of crime cases, mainly burglary, at guarded residential
buildings were common.
From flaws in security management, the complacency and negligence of
occupants and security guards to crooked tenants are among the causes
which investigators believe may have led to the crimes.
About two months ago, it was heart-wrenching nightmare for 32-year-old
media company director Faraz Shams Khan when he returned home with his
family just hours after being away to find his rented unit at the
Paramount View condominium in Section 22 here burgled.
The Indian national who is an expatriate with a company here said he
lost RM60,000 in cash and valuables, some that he inherited from his
forefathers.
"It was the fasting month and we had left our house for just hours
earlier and returned home at 10.30pm on July 29. Our master bedroom was
ransacked. My wife's wedding jewellery and RM20,000 cash I kept for my
child's education insurance policy were gone. My priceless collection
of 200 collectible coins and my grandfather's silver medals he earned
from serving the British army were also stolen. Electronic appliances
like the TV, computer and cameras were intact.
The thief or thieves
seemed to know where everything was kept. Apart from family members and
friends, we only had a foreign maid who came over occasionally to do
some housework." he told The Sun.
Faraz said he learnt from neighbours that an unknown man was spotted loitering at the premises of the condominium.
management was
also negligent
"I think some inside job was involved. The condominium management was
also negligent in not fixing an access card security system which had
been faulty two months earlier. Only recently was it fixed. Without
this system, anyone can walk around the building freely." he told The Sun yesterday.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohd Zani Che Din (photo) said police
found no closed-circuit security cameras were installed on the floor of
Faraz's house.
"We arrested three suspects, including the security guards of the
condominium but it yielded no positive leads. Our investigations will
continue pending further information. Our advice is that the management
of such buildings and the security companies appointed by them should
improve their facilities and train their guards to be pro-active to
deter such cases." he told The Sun.
In a separate case in Bandar Sunway on July 11, a woman lost luxury
watches, cash, gold bars and jewellery worth about RM300,000 kept in
her condominium unit on Jalan PJS11/26a when burglars broke in.
She had left her house at about 8am and returned home at 5pm to find her place ransacked.
many factors that weaken safety
Selangor police acting CID chief ACP Yahya Abdul Rahman said there are
many factors that weaken the safety of such guarded residential
buildings.
He said there have been cases of criminals who take up short-term tenancy at condominiums to pull off break-ins.
Yahya said there were also cases of unsuspecting occupants who allow
their crooked friends to stay over at their homes and it has leads to
break-ins.
rivalry between security
companies
Police sources who have handled such cases in the past said another
factor found to have led to such cases was rivalry between security
companies.
"To discredit a particular security company and obtain the contract for
the job, there are rival companies that are willing to do anything
including hiring criminals to pull off such security breaches.
reliable guards
The management of such buildings must ensure the security companies
they appoint are reputable and capable of providing reliable guards.
There are guards who are foreigners who hold work permits as plantation
or general workers. However, they are 'reassigned' and made into
guards. How can we rely on such personnel?
residents should not be complacent
Residents on the other hand should not be complacent and take all
necessary measures in securing their condo units just as they would for
a landed property.
Nothing is fool-proof. Residents should also learn to befriend their
neighbours so that they can lookout for each other during their absence
from their homes."
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