BUKIT MERTAJAM, Nov 2 — There was 50 per cent rise in student-related crimes in Penang from January to Oct 31 this year, said state deputy police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan.
He said during that period, a total of 90 criminal cases were reported involving motorcycle thefts, stealing possessions and rioting, compared with 67 cases in the same period last year.
“These criminal activities involved youngsters aged 13 to 18 years,” he told reporters after the Joint Community Crime Prevention Programme involving the Chinese community, at Sekolah Menengah Jit Sin (Private), here, today.
He said cases involving juveniles who were not schooling had also increased to 217 cases from January to Oct 31 this year, compared with 197 cases for the same period last year.
“Although the number of cases involving students and juveniles has increased this year, it is still under control and does not involve serious crimes. About 70 per cent of the cases reported were motorcycle thefts and rioting cases,” he said.
In this regard, Thaiveegan hoped that schools and parents could play a more proactive role in monitoring and educating young people so as not to get involved in criminal activities. — Bernama
