FOR the past three weeks, a group of thieves have been terrorising traders at the Pasir Pinji wet market in Ipoh by threatening them and making off with their goods.
According to the traders, the group, compri-sing between four and six people, often struck in the wee hours of the morning.
“They usually arrive on their motorcycles after 3am, ride around the area first and then one of them will enter the market to check out the si-tuation.
“Once the coast is clear, the group steal whatever goods they find, like our meats and vegetables,” said trader Cheong Sum Sooi during a visit by a group of officers from the Perak police contingent at the market yesterday.
Getting feedback: DCP Zulkifli speaking to a trader during his visit at the Pasir Pinji wet market in Ipoh. With him is Cheong (centre).Cheong, who spoke on behalf of the traders, said the thieves had once even stolen some cash and valuables from a trader who happened to be in the market then.
“In another incident, when one trader asked the group why they were making off with the goods, they threatened him and told him not to lodge a police report.
“They told him that they would hurt him if he reported them,” he said.
Cheong added that over the past three weeks, the same group had struck several times, causing the traders to live in fear.
“We have also lodged police reports. However, the group would only attack after they see the police patrol vehicle leaving the site,” he said.
After his visit, Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah pledged to step up security in the market.
“We will increase the frequency of our police patrol and ensure that the traders here feel safe again.
“I will also ask the Ipoh City Council to install more street lights around the market to brigh-ten up the area,” he said
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