KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26, 2009): The crime rate at 13 crime hotspots in the city has dropped by 13%, following crime-prevention operations from Aug 5 to Nov 15, this year.
 
The hotspots have been identified as Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu, Brickfields, Kuchai Park, Happy Garden, Taman Midah, Taman Connaught, Taman Alam Damai, Bukit Anggerik, Bandar Sri Permaisuri and Metro Prima, Jinjang Utara and Danau Kota.
 
As a result of the operations, city police chief Datuk Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman noted, a decrease of 153 cases was possible, as compared to about three months earlier.
 
"Nevertheless, we still feel it is high and will continue efforts to reduce crime, especially street crimes such as snatch theft and gang robbery," he said.
 
The police chief was speaking to reporters after launching the monthly assembly at the city police headquarters here today.
 
Muhammad Sabtu said the overall city crime rate was 39%, while in November it was recorded at 20.7%.
 
"This means that from January to November, this year, we managed to lower the crime rate by 19%, which is half of the original rate. We are trying to reduce it further through ongoing operations," he added. -- Bernama