KUALA TERENGGANU, April 23 (Bernama) — The involvement of adolescents in thuggery and street crime in the state has reached a serious level with 72 arrests recorded last year.
Terengganu police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said several of them were arrested while performing daring stunts on their motorcycles which not only endangered their own lives but also that of other road users.
“The youths and adolescents’ involvement in crime is worrying and this problem must be tackled through a concerted effort to protect their own future and public safety,” he said after officiating at the seven-a-side football tournament for the Terengganu Police Chief Trophy, here, on Friday.
Mohd Shukri said throughout last year, 365 crime cases or 9.36 per cent involved adolescents and the crime included using force, robbery, motorcycle thefts, rape, extortion, cheating, fights and prostitution, besides murder.
He said during the same period, youths and adolescents’ involvement in drug abuse also increased, with 141 arrests made, while the cause factors included undesirable surroundings and bad influence of peers.
On the football tournament which involved 75 teams, Mohd Shukri said it was one of the crime-prevention activities organised by the state police headquarters.
— BERNAMA
