In today’s interconnected world, social media has proven to be a valuable tool for communication, sharing information, and even seeking assistance in times of distress.
A shopkeeper in Malaysia became a victim of burglary and posted screen captures from his CCTV of the perpetrators, offering a reward of RM8,888 (or SGD$2,600) for their capture, according to Facebook page HighLight Kuching.
However, the thieves caught wind of it and got upset, before returning to confront the shopkeeper with parangs.
Shop Owner’s Dilemma: Repeated Burglaries
The shopkeeper found himself at the mercy of relentless burglaries that targeted his store in Kuching, Sarawak. These intrusions not only inflicted financial losses but also left him feeling violated and vulnerable.
The thieves broke into his shop on 25 August, before coming back again to steal somemore on 28 August.
Frustrated and seeking a solution, he turned to the one platform that has the potential to reach a vast audience – Facebook.
In a bold move, the shop owner created a Facebook post detailing the repeated burglaries and the images of the culprits captured by his store’s CCTV cameras.
To incentivize cooperation, he offered a substantial reward of RM8,888 (S$2,600) for information leading to the arrest of each thief.
The Unforeseen Consequence: Angry Thief’s Return
One of the burglars, upon discovering the Facebook post and the reward being offered, reacted with a mixture of fury and desperation. Driven by anger, he revisited the crime scene armed with a parang, a type of machete.
According to China Press, the thief went back to the crime scene at Jalan Stephen Yong at about 11pm on 29 August. Thankfully, the angry thief’s suspicious behavior attracted the attention of vigilant individuals in the vicinity. The thief was then subdued by a security guard and several members of the public.
Concerned citizens promptly alerted the police, preventing a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.
The authorities swiftly arrived at the scene, apprehending the assailant and recovering the parang from his possession.