A Malaysian woman has taken to social media to warn others to be careful when using public toilets after she survived a snatch theft attempt at a petrol station in Johor Bahru, Johor
Facebook user Peggy Quah took to her page to share about her traumatic experience that occurred last Monday, 23 November, at a petrol station in Taman Desa Cemerlang.
She recounted that she stopped at the petrol station at about 9pm that night to use the toilet.
“I was mugged while the station was still brightly lit and busy with people around, including staff and other customers,” she wrote.
She advised that all women should not go to petrol station toilets unaccompanied. Otherwise, it was better to not go at all.
While the 26-year-old was in the toilet, she said she suddenly noticed a shadow of someone peeking from inside the next stall
“I immediately got scared and wanted to get out. However, as soon as I opened the door, there was a man standing in front of me,” she said.
The man told her not to scream and reached his hand out to make a dash for her handbag.
“Luckily, I came to my senses at that moment. I quickly confirmed that he did not have a weapon on him and strongly pulled my handbag away while shouting for help.”
She said that she was lucky that she was bigger than he was, and kicked him repeatedly to fend him off.
After fighting back and screaming for help, she said the thief got scared off and ran away without taking a thing
“All the stuff in my bag fell on the floor,” she said but quickly picked them up and ran out.
Fortunately, there was a tow truck driver parked in front of the public toilets who heard her shouting for help.
Along with the aid of a few petrol station staff who saw the man running away, they managed to catch the thief behind the petrol station.
Image via New Straits Times
Peggy wrote that she was extremely grateful for the six to seven people who helped her, as well as the police, who quickly made an arrest after she reported the incident
“After recording a statement for the police and going to identify the suspect, I felt like I was in a movie,” she related.
The near-victim said she sustained bruises across her body but was extremely grateful that the snatch theft was not more violent than it could have been.
“Thank God the thief had no weapons and no accomplices. I’m now safe, black and blue, but not seriously injured,” she concluded in her Facebook post that was widely shared.
It was later reported that the suspect is a 21-year-old and was kept in remand for five days to aid in investigations.
According to The Star, the case is being investigated under Section 393 of the Penal Code for attempted robbery. The offence carries a maximum seven year’s jail term and a fine if convicted.