He said this would encourage the thieves to commit more crimes.

 Speaking at the 10th anniversary joy of Bintulu Vui Neng Association last weekend at Bintulu Civic Centre, he said there had been instances of victims offering cash rewards through newspapers to these who helped find their cars, adding that the victims would willingly pay up to RM30,000.

 “This practice has led to more thefts and there are syndicates who have been stealing cars in the hope that the owners would offer them cash rewards.”
 He was worried this could become “the norm of crime in Sarawak: A thief will steal a car, the owner will pay for it to be returned, and the thieves will then steal more cars and owners will offer them more cash.”

 “What victims should do is to work with the police, and not with the thieves. If a stranger calls to tell you that your stolen car has been found, call the police and let them to handle the situation. Never offer cash to thieves.”

 He said it was wrong to keep the police out of the picture when the victims went to meet the thieves to retrieve their stolen cars.

 “The police will never be able to solve the thefts while the thieves will be encourage to steal some more.”

 Tiong said vehicle thefts had been rampant in Sarawak and the people, including the victims, should work with the police.

 “You should not wish and hope that the police will solve the thefts while you yourselves collaborate with the thieves.”

 He said communal anti-crime efforts should be a corporation between the people and the police and only through this can the community create a win-win situation.

 “If you don’t give information on crime, don’t expect the police to work efficiently.”

 Tiong said with the building of the coastal highway, there had been several occurrences of robberies, car thefts and snatching, especially along the stretch between Miri and Niah.

 “I call on the police there to step up the security and carry out pro-active measures. Don’t wait for a crime to occur before starting to chase after the criminals.”

 He said he had learnt of a complaint in a newspaper that a complainant found the police station counter in Niah unmanned when he wanted to lodge a report.

 “Instead, he found a uniformed policeman drinking  in a coffee shop.”

 On anti-crime actions in Sibu, he praised the new police chief ACP Nicholas Sebastian and his senior officers for having done a good jod.

 He noted that after Nicholas took over the office, the police herehad solved several crime cases.

 “This proves that his anti-crime strategy is efficient.”

 He hope Nicholas and his officers would continue working efficiently.

 Tiong also urged the public never to take the law into their own hands but to work with the police.