Malls keeps its I's on crimes

This article appeared on the Home page in the Straits Times on 2 March 2009.

This is an initiative called 'I3' which was started by the managements and tenants of Ang Mo Kio hub in conjunction with the police. It was set up because there had been many petty crimes which affected the tenants. The three I's stand for Information, Involvement and Institution. Under Information, security officers were given training last October on how to handle emergencies and prevent crimes. Under Involvement, the shop tenants built up ties with the police and Institution refers to the part played by shop tenants in putting what they learnt at the workshops into use. As a result, many shop tenants have taken the initiative to solve the problem.

I feel that there is a lot to learn from the proactive spirit of the management and shop tenants. They have taught us a valuable lesson that problems can be better solved through active participation and taking initiative instead of just relying on the police. I am sure that if they were to just make reports of the petty crimes, up till today and in the foreseeable future, this problem would not be solved.

This article has also taught us that everyone of us should exhibit active citizenry in preventing crime by reporting any crime or suspicious looking person to the police instead of inaction. If everyone were to do their part, then our society would be a much safer place to live in as it is impossible for the police to be everywhere.