PUSH-POCKET VICTIMS URGED TO LODGE POLICE REPORT

Kuala Lumpur, August 24 - Victims who have fallen prey to the "push-pocket" blackmail tactic that is reportedly masterminded by a syndicate targeting the KL International Airport (KLIA) area, have been urged to lodge a police report.

Sepang deputy police chief Supt Baharuddin Mat Taib said the police viewed seriously the warning made viral on the social media regarding the crime and urged the victims to file a police report if the incident was true.

"However, the police have yet to receive any complaints or reports on push-pocket incidents," he told Bernama here today.

According to the message made viral on the social network, the modus operandi of these push-pocket perpetrators was to slip valuable items such mobile phones or wallets into the victim's pocket and the targets were usually foreigners who had just arrived at KLIA, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) station or congested areas.

The blackmailers will then approach the victims with a so-called "witness" and accuse them of theft while causing a ruckus.

The suspects will demand the victims to pay a sum to close the case or face the risk of being reported to the authorities and the desperate victims would usually agree to pay out of fear.

The public were also warned that if it happened at the airport, the perpetrators would purposely place their items on the baggage trolley of unsuspecting victims.

Based on a study by Bernama, warnings on push-pocket incidents which had been spread via internet since 2009 was allegedly issued by a law firm, and recently the same warning had become viral, causing concern among the public.

In July last year, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had urged push-pocket victims to report the case to the police.

He also advised the victims to not be afraid when facing the situation and instead follow the push-pocket perpetrators to the police station to lodge a report.