You would have heard many horror stories of crimes in the "wild, wild North".
The relatively high crime rate had ledto the high profile the Singapore press gives to crime committed in Johor Bahru against its citizens. Although the crime rate in Johor Bahru is still higher than in Singapore and elsewhere in Malaysia, the good news is that there has been an increase in police and anti-crime actions to reduce the crime rates supposedly caused by mainly drug addicts and illegal immigrants. Things have become better since the Johor Bahru administration took action to increase the police presence and initiate several anti-crime measures - including the creation of a hotline (+6072212999) for tourists to call should they require urgent police assistance.
Here are some tips when you visit Johor Bahru:
- Avoid carrying handbags when walking around town. Be cautious of thieves on motorcycles. If you have to carry anything valuable, make sure it is not visible. Snatch thieves have been known to snatch handbags away while their victims are walking on the street, using a motorcycle. If they do manage to grab your handbag, let them have it as some snatch thieves are known to drag their victims along the road with their motorbikes until they release their grip.
- Keep your passport safe and close to you. Passports is valuable to robbers.
- Try to keep small notes of money to pay for items when shopping in markets.
- Refrain from wearing excessive jewelry.
- Lock the car door immediately as you get into/out of the car.
- Stay home at night or only go to areas with good security such as malls and private clubs. When going out at night, try moving in a group at night and avoid places that are quiet and dark.
- Avoid using restrooms in petrol kiosks after sunset. There are cases of armed robbers hiding within the restroom waiting for victims.
- In the event that you get robbed, it is likely that the robber would be armed with a "parang", a long Malay sword. You are advised to give up most (if not all) of your valuables to avoid putting your personal safety in jeopardy.
- As a rule of thumb, the general hawker food scene in JB is hygienic. Tap water should be boiled before drinking.
- Refrain giving money to the 'beggars' around JB as most of them 'work' for a syndicate. Giving them money will encourage them to continue their act.