IT'S A FACT house owners don’t feel secure at home

PETALING JAYA - Despite the government's claim that the crime rate has been falling, vendors of security systems report steadily increasing sales – a reflection of public paranoia about crime.

Proof of this can be seen by the many high walls, spiked grilled fencing and door and window grills as well as CCTV cameras mounted at many private homes in urban areas.

Indeed, sales of various burglar alarm, security and CCTV systems as well as grills and security doors have been steadily growing, particularly over the last four years.

"We have seen a surge in sales especially over the past few years because many people feel unsafe even in their homes with just a basic locked door and gate," said a local CCTV and alarm system expert who wished to be identified only as Ng.

"Even I do not feel that these are very safe times," said Ng, adding that many house owners now tend to have at least a basic burglar alarm system.

He said most, however, opt for integrated alarm systems that are linked to the house owner's handphones or a central monitoring system (CMS).

It is understood that the home security industry has seen about 20% to 30% increase in sales of burglar alarms and CCTVs in recent years.

Sales of grilled and multi-lock security doors as well as personal alarms and pepper sprays have also been rising.

"Four years ago, security doors were basically unheard of. All a family needed to feel safe was a gate, grill and door. Today, our customers view our product as vital to their security," said Liew, a spokesman of City Gate, a provider of security doors.

"I don't think the crime rate is improving significantly as customers constantly complain to us about the insecurity they feel at home."

"A security door is seen as a logical purchase for them as it has a sophisticated and advanced lock system and a solid, steel frame. A normal door just won't do anymore," he added.

Some house owners have also reportedly installed grilled doors or roller shutters at the staircase to segregate the family sleeping quarters on the upper floor from the ground floor.

This is so that in case of a break-in from the ground floor, the risk of the family being rudely awakened and held at knife-point is reduced, while the opportunity to call for the police is increased.

The government has been having a tough time fighting the perception that crime is rampant, especially because nearly everyone nowadays knows someone or a friend of someone, who has been a victim of crime.

The situation is made worse by the fact that crime reports have been magnified by the social media through the simple click of a 'share' button whether through Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

Indeed, crime reports spread like wildfire through social media, where netizens tend to circulate and even add on and their own interpretations and comments, resulting in the rumours growing and feeding the paranoia.

This is despite Malaysia being declared the 19th safest and most peaceful country (out of 153 countries) and the safest in Southeast Asia in the recent Global Peace Index.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, the police, and Pemandu all claim it is only public perception that crime is on the increase or getting more and more rampant.

Reducing Crime NKRA director Eugene Teh of Pemandu said recently there were 63,221 cases of crime between January and May compared to 70,343 cases recorded in the corresponding period last year.

-thesundaily