Easy Target

Within a span of one week, two houses in our residential area have been burgled. The modus operandi is the same, they come in through the ceiling from outside of the house and they only collect small valuable items such as cash, gold, handphones, laptop etc.

Last Saturday, when our next door neighbour returns home after the holidays, they found out that their laptop and some cash missing. The robbers even left the ceiling wide open not bothering to close it back. Luckily, nobody was home and nothing else was taken.

Yesterday, another house at the fourth row was broken into (our house is in the second row). The burglar tried get into the house at 8pm. The wife who was staying alone at that time heard the noise in her ceiling went to check and saw a man open up her ceiling. He looked equally surprised to see her and fled away. Maybe he thought the house was empty. I dare not imagine the possibility if he knows the lady was staying alone and all the things that he can do to her.

Yesterday, I was staying alone with Adam, Hannah and Nadia. Gen was outstation to Kuala Tahan near the Taman Negara Reserve. At 8pm I was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner. I have no idea about the burglary until Mak come and informed me about it after Isya’ (she always drops by everytime Gen is not around). Abah went to that house while the police were still there. The police said there are a few reported similar cases and so far, the burglar chooses empty houses. Abah is a bit upset because he was worried about me and the kids and the police seem to take the matter lightly because there is no injury or fatality reported.

Abah and Mak end up sleeping in our house. We don’t have any spare bed, so they both slept on spread quilt in the living room. I know the hard floor must be harsh on their tender old bones but I was so afraid sleep alone and to tell them otherwise. Gen promised to settle his matter as fast as he could so that he can come back today.

Last night. I sleep with my car keys and I will switch on the alarm if anything happen. It’s a tip that I got from a safety class organized by the Bar. However, we were reminded that the burglar will react differently if they felt threatened. I’m not sure whether I can think (or even breathe) if I come across the situation. We were reminded that no matter how valuable our possessions are, our life and our loved ones are the most important things in the world.

Ya Allah Ya Tuhanku, peliharalah kami dari sebarang kejahatan dan kemungkaran. Amin.