Broad daylight car window break-in while driving - what a traumatic experience!

I was driving along Jalan Ampang, around 6pm++. Due to the normal jam, the car are moving slowly with a stop, move a bit, stop, move a bit repetitive action.

This happen just outside the Lembaga getah Malaysia, opposite roadhouse grill. I feel that something or someone is near the passenger side of my car. I looked left and saw a motorbike with 2 people. The next thing I see is a smash on the car window and I can see the window crack and in a split second another smash and I can see glass shattering *Everything happens so fast, but yet when the glass shatters I feel I can see the pieces of glasses flying everywhere in slow motion* Then, I see a dark-coloured hand snatch my handbag.

I shouted and horned my car but nothing happens.

Lesson #1 - Don't put your handbag too near the window, even if it is nearer to your side, still dangerous. From what I heard in the car workshop, a girl put her handbag on her lap, the motorcyclist break her car window and cut her face with a knife because worry she recognized his face. A better option is probably getting a smaller handbag and stuffed it under your seat?

Lesson #2 - It doesn't matter whether it is bright daylight or dark midnight. It doesn't matter whether there are a lot of people or no people. When criminals are desperate, they will commit crime.

So after the traumatising incident, where lots of cars are on the road and motorist driving pass, I still have to drive 30 mins way jam back home with a shattered window sticking to my tinted film lying on my passenger seat and pieces of glasses over the drivers side and the back of the left passenger's side.

Lesson #3 - Do tint your car window. Tinted windows not only have the cooling effect, but it aids in reducing the glass shattering effect. It could have help me in getting hurt or even to the extend of saving my life.

I admit I was a bit shaken out while I was driving back. I did not even realised my little left finger was bleeding until I feel a bit pain and then a drop of blood fell onto my left thigh. I also suffered a minor cut on my right middle finger.

When I arrived home, I quickly informed my mum (Thank God my mum is with me at this time) and we proceeded to cancel my only credit card (still a virgin card!!!) and my 2 ATM cards. My SIL helped out too. Next step, is to get my handphone number cut off. However, at this time..... We received a phone call on my mum's phone.

A samaritian found my handbag. Luckily, I had not canceled my maxis line. He talked to my mum and gave her his home address in Taman Maluri for us to get my handbag, he told us that my purse was not in there.

My mum and I rushed our way there. On our way, my brother called and said he is on his way back but Calv is heading straight to the Samaritian's place. My brother asked us to wait for Calv as we are now all paranoid of who is friend and who is foe. Till then, I still haven't got the chance to call Calv. Then, my dad called all the way from Vietnam and asked whether I am doing fine. He is worried and said Calv had called to ask for mum's and bro's mobile number.

Apparently, Mr. Samaritian had called Calv before calling mum and Calv asked Mr. Samaritian to try calling my mum. (I don't put my family contact names as Dad, Mum, Bro or SIL). Luckily Calv got saved my dad's number which I had called him previously. Calv called my dad all the way in Vietnam for my mum's and bro's number. There's this part which Calv told me much later in the night between his conversation with my dad that got me laughing hard after my trauma.

Conversation section inserted first
********
Calv : "Hello Uncle, I got a call that Eileen got robbed and they found her handbag. I don't know what is happening now. But I need Auntie's or Eileen's brother's phone number."
Dad : "What? What happened? Okay okay. Eileen's mum phone 012."
Calv : "Okay."
Dad : "012 *Pause* 987 *Pause*. Okay?"
Calv : "012 *Pause* 987 Okay"
Dad : "987 *Pause* Okay?"
Calv : "987 *Pause* Okay."
Dad : "6**3 *Pause* Okay."
Calv : "Huh?"
Dad : "987 *Pause* Okay?"
Calv : "Okay."
Dad : "987 *Pause* *Pause* 65*3 Okay?"
Calv : "Huh?"
Dad : "987 *Pause* *Pause* *Pause* Okay?"
Calv : ................
Dad : "987 *Pause* *Pause* 6543 Okay?"
Calv : (Thank God) Okay.
Dad : "987......"
Calv : (Kill me please)

******

At last, I get to call Calv. All he said that he is on his way to the Samaritian's place and ask me whether I am okay. I feel so relieved and a bit guilty that I couldn't have informed him earlier. In this sense, I have to admit Calv is rather understanding and he will ask whether I am okay before asking whether the car is damaged or what has happened.

Calv reached earlier than us and went inside to talk to the Samaritian family. We came in around 20 mins later than them. They told us the story that the maid and the kids were playing at the park beside the housing estate and the 2 motorists stopped at the park and started digging my bag and took my purse and just throw my handbag in front of so many people. They identified them as 2 malay men. My samaritian is a Malay family. Outrageous huh?

I placed my handphone at the side of my bag along with a folded RM10 >_< and the thieves did not saw it. That's how they get to call us. The thiefs took my purse with my IC, driving license, my only virgin credit card, 2 ATM cards, 1 touch-n-go, my company insurance card, isetan card, jusco card, name cards, receipts, pics and around RM200. They also took my FAKE LV card holder. Wukakakakakaka... Calv and my mum could not stop laughing about that though. Calv went through my things first before I reach there and managed to make me smile when he whispered and said, "Funny, why they did not take your sanitary pads?"

We talked for a while, said our thanks and leave to do police report. Calv went home (sorry I meant went to shopping mall to buy ps3, hahahaha). So my mum and I went home to take my poor shaken car to the police station. I got my police report done within 40 minutes and the police there are pretty friendly. We are both surprised and impressed. However, it is true as predicted by Calv, the policeman typed with 2 fingers >_<. The report is however under the Tun Razak police station jurisdiction. Thus, he gave me an inspector number and said the inspector will call me if there is any follow-up. I asked for a phone number and the moment we stepped up from the police station, the inspector/seargant called and asked me details about the thieves and whether I can remember the plate number or the motorcycle model. Not bad huh.

By the time we reached home, it is around 9pm+++. We had our dinner and went online on webcam to talked to my dad. I also called my boss to take EL as I need to make the necessary documents the next day.

*******

I woke up around 7am++, my mum, SIL and I went to police station to get 2 copies of certified police reports for the purpose of making IC and driving license. It costs me RM4 for 2 reports. We went off to get the IC done first, the service is good and fast. My hair and look appears disasterous as I couldn't sleep until 2:30am the night before. I am gonna hate my new IC look!!! Next, we proceed to have brunch at 9am++ and went to JPJ to get my driving license done, service is good and fast too. Both were done free as my documents were reported stolen.

Next, we sent my car to fix, as we decided it is not worth to claim insurance. Replace car window, got it tinted plus service fees - cost RM228.

Next, we went to the bank to get my ATM card done, CIMB service sucks big time. Then, we went down to KL to have lunch with bro and Calv. We then dropped by bro's office, where my mum went to talk to my bro's boss - the Datin, who was super friendly and can't seems to stop talking to us.

Next on, we went to Maybank KLCC branch to get my ATM card done, good service and I got my ATm card upgraded to visa debit card. The cost of making 2 new atm cards is RM24. By then, it is already late 4pm, we went home.

Upon reaching home, I got a called from my colleague at around 6pm that a police called my office looking for me and said he had found my purse. She gave me the number and a name that she ain't that sure. I called the police.

******
Eileen :"Hello, saya Eileen. Tadi you call office saya cari saya, tapi saya tiada. Colleague saya bagi nombor kamu." (Ok, I admit my malay sucks big time, but I am willing to try ok?!?!?!)
Police :"Oh. Ya, jumpa dompet kamu di Balai Polis Kampung Pandan."
Eileen :"Oh. Mana itu Balai Polis Kampung Pandan?"
Police :"Kampung Pandan."
Eileen :(wtf)"Errr...dekat mana? Boleh bagi dekat Balai Polis Taman Melawati."
Police :"Itu jauh lar. Saya tak tau tempat itu. Tak apa. Sekarang saya pun sibuk. Apa kata jumpa pukul 9-10 di suatu tempat di KL, saya bagi kamu."
Eileen :"Huh?"
Police :"Saya panggil you saja pukul 9-10 dan tentukan tempat lar."
Eileen :"Errrrr..... okay."

I ran to mum and told her. Mum and I was skeptical, we quickly drove to our nearby police station and asked regarding the procedure to meet outside of police station. The polices said it is not right and I suggested them to check the validity of the phone number. They asked me to refer back to Tun Razak police station. FINE! We went home and I called the Tun Razak police station.

Conversation 1
**************
Eileen :"Saya baru dapat panggilan cakap jumpa dompet saya. Tapi polis tu cakap mahu jumpa luar pada malam 9-10."
Police :"Where? We can send a police to accompany you."
Eileen :(Wah, can speak good english one)"I am not sure, he says will call me later on and confirm time and place. But I got his mobile number and his partial name. Can you please help me check whether this is genuine or not?"
Police :"Sure."
Eileen :(Thank God) "01*-********"
Police :"Okay. What's your name? Do you want me to call you back or you call me back?"
Eileen :"My name is E-i-l-e-e-n. My phone number is 01*-*******. Can you please call me back?"
Police :"Sure."

Around 15 minutes later...

Conversation 2
**************
Police :"Okay, we have checked and the phone is valid to an officer at Balai Polis Pudu a subdivision of Balai Polis Kampung Pandan."
Eileen :"Icic. But can police ask you to meet so late and not in police station?"
Police :"That is not a proper procedure. Eh, I just checked, when you called just now, I thought you are old. Now only I know you 20++ only." (Suddenly sounds so friendly, previously sound formal only)
Eileen :"Errr... ya. Can I request to meet in Balai Police?"
Police :"Of course. You just let him know that your case is under Balai Police Tun Razak and ask him to send to this station."
Eileen :"Err... Sure. But what if he do not agree? Can you help me make the call?"
Police :"Sure."

Around 15 minutes later...

Conversation 3
**************
Police :"Okay, we have called him. He said you requested to meet at 9pm."
Eileen :(WTF)"Huh???"
Police :"Don't worry. When he called again, you just said you wanna meet at Balai Police Tun Razak because your case is under here."
Eileen :"Okay."

Around 15 minutes later...

Conversation 4
**************
Eileen :"Errr.... this is Eileen."
Police :".... Oh... yes?"
Eileen :"I just wondering o, how did you talk to the other polis?"
Police :"Haha... don't worry lar, after all, he still is a police, what harm can he do? He is not the perompak, don't worry lar."
Eileen :"Errr...." (time to use tactic) "You know lar, sekarang saya memang paranoid sikit lar, pandu kereta pun takut lar."
Police :"True true. We in different situation. But don't worry lar, I am at your side. But don't worry lar."
Eileen :(Very worry)"Oh...okay. Anything can call you?"
Police :"Sure."

Late night, Calv called me and he asked me to arrange with the Police to meet at the police station around lunch time where he can fetch me from my office and dropped by the police station together. The next morning, I called the police and he agreed. Calv as a loving bf dropped by during his busy working hours to fetch me.

We dropped by Tun Razak police station and I asked for my lost purse. The police who had been talking to me on the phone said, "Oh, you Eileen ar? Can't recognize your voice." He is an Indian police. Anyway, the other police never put my purse there. So, he asked me to call the police again. The police said he is on the way and be there soon. Soon enough, he gave me a call and asked me to go outside the police station, he is in a black car.

So, I went out (half hiding behind Calv), the malay police was puffing his ciggie like nobody business, almost suffocating me and remained sitting in his black car. He took my purse from his dashboard and gave it to me. Calv asked him where he found it, then the police asked me about the incident, then he left. Calv says he got all the typical "rasuah me" talk and action. After that, I went in the police station and told the other policeman that I got my purse already, he only said, "So the guy don't wanna come in ar? Weird guy (give suspicious look)". Then we left.

In the car, Calv asked me....

Calv :"What if the police ask you what you can do for him to return the favour?"
Eileen : (Ponders a while)"TERIMA KASIH BANYAK BANYAK!!!"
Calv : "................."

The thief took my money and my touch-n-go. My company's name card not there, which I assume the police took it. Total lost money around RM200 and touch-n-go inside only got RM13. My mum says no worries that the thief will not come to rob our house because apparently this girl is very poor. Wait until they identify the LV namecard holder also fake.....

Lesson #4 - Thief or police - friend or foe? Scare of theif, then scare of police. Sigh.

Lesson #5 - The importance of family, partner and friends support are very important. It is actually a good way to identify or recognize how differently people react to the incident. Personally, through this experience I also learn something about myself and people around me.

It's true experience makes you learn and grow, but sometimes I believe some experiences if never gone through, it wouldn't hurt to say "Luckily, I do not have to go through that kind of experience."