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Nov 19, 2004
Car stolen despite alarm, locks
By Maria Almenoar
FREQUENT travellers to Malaysia, the Neo family, had heard of cars getting stolen there, so they loaded their multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with a high-end alarm system and immobiliser costing $500, and two $50 steering wheel locks.
Still, burglars drove their Toyota Estima away from a Malacca hotel carpark on Sunday night, right past four security guards.
The family had parked the seven-seater, which they bought five months ago, in a well-lit area metres from A'Famosa Resort's reception desk and directly below the balcony of their second-floor room.
Said Mrs R. Neo, 44, a housewife, who had driven up with her 47-year-old businessman husband and 13-year-old daughter: 'We didn't hear a sound, although our car alarm is supposed to sound if someone breaks in.
'We couldn't believe it was gone.'
The hotel's operations manager, Ms Pauline Chua, said the family had made a complaint to the hotel and a report at the police station in Sungei Ampat.
The police here do not have records of how many Singaporeans have their cars stolen while in Malaysia, but the top three car insurers in town said the number is small but growing.
NTUC Income, which insures 40 per cent of the cars here, said 126 of its policyholders had theirs taken in 2002, compared to 56 in 2001.
A spokesman added that 78 were stolen last year, possibly because fewer people drove to Malaysia due to Sars and the owners being more careful.
AIG's American Home Assurance (Singapore) said it had 22 such cases last year, more than in previous years, but declined to give figures. AXA said it had eight cases in 2002 and five in 2001.
Among the cars most at risk are luxury four-door sedans, MPVs and coupes. Experts here said thieves do not set off car alarms because they tow the car away or hoist it onto a carrier, disabling the alarm in a secluded area.
As a surveillance video in A'Famosa's carpark shows Mrs Neo's car being driven away, they suggested the thieves copied the remote-key system.
Said a senior trainer at BMW distributor Performance Motors, Mr Shahjahan Shahul Hameed: 'A person hiding about 10m away can electronically copy the signal as you lock your car.'
One company here, SQ Image, claims it has a has a high-tech system that alerts owners through a hand-held remote of any movement within an 800m radius of their vehicle. It costs $1,200.
The Neo family, however, believe their best bet is to stop driving to Malaysia.
'If we ever go up, it'll be by coach or train,' said Mrs Neo.
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I guess, the impression on us Singaporeans is that Malaysia is a terrible place to drive into. That Malaysians are all targetting Singaporeans and their cars.
I am going to Malaysia tomorrow, bringing my grandmother and father to visit relatives. My aunt called yesterday to tell me not to drive in, since my car is new, and that there are people robbing Singapore Cars. That she heard someone's car was hijacked in Malaysia.
Then, my other uncle called and left a voice mail. Most probably wanting to tell me the same thing.
I mean, really, media sensationalism at work. I still remembered a case last year, where a couple was involved in a traffic accident, saying how this truck just bumped into them and apparently attacked them for no reason.
Few days later, in a very small section of the papers, the other side of the story was apparent. That the Singaporean couple didn't have very good driving manners and agitated the truck driver.
Granted, I don't support road rage, justified or not. But the "Singaporean Attitude" is still the root cause of many tussles and heartache. I have loads to tell about Singaporean drivers on Singapore roads, but I am drifting.
Facts are :
(1) Many Malaysians lose their cars to hijacking and robbing too. These people target money, not nationality. Read Malaysian newspapers for a more balanced viewpoint.
(2) Thousands of Singapore cars go across the causeway everyday. (Last I checked, about 5000 Singapore cars per day). And we hear of 1 or 2 horror stories in the newspaper per month.
(3) Being robbed is a risk everywhere. Last I checked, there are still murders and robbery in Singapore too, you know.
Well, I will pray that tomorrow, my car and myself will make it back without any injuries.....
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