Anything: May 2012

It was a fine morning, I went to work as usual after I put my cloths into the washing machine, the only different is everyone were out from the house, I was the last one who leave the house. Not including my colleague who were driving out (reversed) the van which parked in my house while I walked to my car, which was parked at the corner of the road, the alley.

While I was walking near my car, I actually notice motor coming from my back then I heard one of the Malay man shouted, "Ah Moi!" I didn't turn back but just continue to unlock my car and wanted to get in the car as soon as I could. I did not bother much because I thought it was that kind of like flirting thing which guys usually does, especially Malay men. However the two of them, one riding on the blue motorcycle, one already got down and tried to snatch my handbag which I sling at my left arm, while another recycle bag sling on my right arm. At one point, I thought, "I must be dreaming, how could this happened to me.", but it is real!

He tried very hard to snatch my bag, we were going through 'tug of war', for a few seconds. I do not know why, but I guessed I just could not let go my handbag. I think it was a normal reflex when someone try to take your belongings, you would grab it back to your side. Then finally he let go the bag, I held my bag on my side but I fell on the tar road, my right elbow was injured. I was surprised when he let go and saw that he wanted to make a second attempt, however he hesitated and left. When I reflected on what just happened, I think I got pushed or hit on the back of my head because I remembered he came and attacked from behind. And, I shouted loud out of my lungs, "Ahh, ahh!!" repeatedly and tried to shout my colleague's name (it sounded ugly, but that is the least I could do during 'tug of war' where he tried to snatch and I grab my bag to my side, to and fro, repeatedly for a few rounds until he finally let go the bag - I was relieved after that even though I fell on the road and got my elbow hurt, but at least I got my bag back).

After both of them left the scene on their dark blue colour motorcycle through the alley, the road behind the houses, then I turned back, realized that my house gate haven't close while my colleague standing out of the van towards my direction, he asked, "Where were the snatch thefts went?" I pointed to the alley and said "They ran away by motorcycle through the back road." He parked his van towards the direction of the alley where the scene was happening. (I guess this is one of the reason the snatch theft let go my bag and left). As I turned back to where I came from, I also realized that while the scene was happening, two men (neighbours) from the opposite road shouted at the snatch thefts. (I realized this actually scared them away and they decided no to make the second attempt).

Thank God for He is in control in this situation whereby the thefts do not have any weapon with them and my colleague and neighbours were really helpful. I did not lost a thing but I got injured. I got bruises on my left arm during 'tug of war' and my right elbow bleed due to scratch on the tar road and my right leg got tiny scratches. I think I twisted my left arm, I felt pain at the muscles of the whole arm, painful as I move about my arm. Thank God that I still alive and my belongings still with me and I managed to drive to work after 'fighting' with snatch thefts. I remembered clearly, God's word says something like this, "God love the sinners but He hate the sins." It was really difficult at my side, but finally I said, "Okay, God, since your word said so, I obey, I choose to forgive them of what they have done." And, my tears just rolled down while I was driving towards my office. This was when the 'shaking and petrifying' moment was over.

When I reached office, I quickly washed my injured right elbow and asked another colleague for first aid kit to wash the wounds. We couldn't find the 'dettol' and yellow solution. Then she asked what happened to me, then I told her what happened, and I broke down to tears again. I could feel that she was shocked. After that, when I was relaxed, my boss asked my colleague to bring me to report at the police station. At first I hesitated because I did not lose my belongings, but she insisted and mentioned that it is a must for safety purposes. So we went together, but I was the driver because her car were sent for service.

I decided to go to the clinic to check up my wounds, hopefully the doctor will wash the wounds or do something about my bruises. Unexpectedly he answered, "There is nothing I could do, your wounds already dried, no point washing it. And your bruises will healed in one or two days." Then he asked, "When was the incident happened?" I said, "This morning just before 9 am." He looks at my elbow and said, "Your wounds dried and healed fast, it seems like you got your wound three days ago." In my heart, I praised God for He healed my wound so fast. His advice was, wash the wound while bathing with shampoo and dry it with towel. Really thankful because this doctor was merciful, he did not charge for consultation fee nor prescribe any medicine. Then, I remembered I prayed to God after I enter the clinic, saying, "Oh God, may the fee be not expensive." Isn't God a good God? He is.

When my parents know about this news, they spread around to the rest of the colleagues and family members, and to friend who were just passing by them on that day.
One of my colleague messaged, "no pain, no gain" after he messaged, "asking am I ok".
Really thankful for all my colleagues who care for me and giving advices to me, asking me to be careful next time.

Lessons to learn: be extra alert towards suspicious surroundings while you are walking alone (I really did not suspect anything when one of them shouted, "Ah Moi!" until I felt my bag was being snatched, while I still held the bag tightly to my side), don't sling bag on one side, better to cross sling (I don't remember how I sling my bag, probably it was on one side - left side, which makes it easier to snatch), and many more - which I don't practice while it happened - like making my car alarm sound, or spraying pepper (but I don't have), or shouted, "Police" - don't know whether it works or doesn't. Report to police even though you did not lose a thing because it added to their list or statistics and they will look for similar case or reports on the same day or days after if it happens again. They would then patrol at the surrounding or suspected areas, hoping to catch the snatch thefts. I really hope the police force is really serious about this.