In Penang, a 71-year-old Chinese woman displayed remarkable courage when confronted by a robber posing as a police officer. The incident occurred around 5 PM yesterday on Jalan Tembaga in the Green Hill area. Despite having part of her gold necklace snatched, she did not back down; instead, she fought back with a water jug, forcing the assailant to flee in haste.
The incident:
According to the victim’s son, Ruan Chong En, he and his mother had gone shopping at the Batu Lanchang market earlier and had separated to return home. While riding her motorcycle through the area, a man on another motorcycle approached her, claiming to be a police officer and requesting to conduct a check. Noticing that he was not in police uniform, she immediately challenged his authority. At that moment, the robber suddenly attempted to grab her gold necklace, resulting in it breaking.
Ruan noted that despite his mother’s calm demeanor during the crisis, nearby residents and people in cars did not rush to help immediately. He understood this reaction, as his mother did not scream for help during the robbery, leading bystanders to possibly think it was merely a dispute between two individuals. It was only afterward that onlookers began to check on her well-being.
The gold necklace, which the victim had purchased many years ago, is estimated to be worth over 2,000 ringgit. Ruan expressed his hope that local lawmakers and police would pay more attention to this incident, especially since there have been virtually no robbery cases in the area for the past 20 years.
This incident not only highlights the bravery of the elderly in the face of danger but also raises concerns about community safety. Ruan is calling for increased police patrols to ensure the safety of residents and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.