GEORGE TOWN: Without adequate CCTV cameras to oversee security, traders who must keep their stalls at the markets open through the night are at the mercy of thieves.
When fishmonger Tan Kwang Kiat found a crate of fish missing from his stall at the Batu Lanchang market earlier this year, it was a painful loss.
“One stolen crate hurts the day’s income.
“And without CCTV footage, the police can’t do much,” he said.
A crate with 25kg to 35kg of iced groupers and snappers can fetch between RM1,500 and RM2,000.
“Luckily, they didn’t take the crabs or prawns. That would have been worse,” he said.
The 44-year-old trader said while Penang Island City Council (MBPP) installed CCTV cameras to curb market thefts, coverage around the market’s perimeter remains limited.
He explained that market gates had to stay open even in the wee hours because lorries would arrive early to unload goods.
He spent about RM500 to install his own CCTV unit, joining a few other stallholders who did the same.
“It would feel safer if there were more cameras installed around the building,” Tan added.
On June 22, CCTV footage recorded a thief lugging away a crate of fish at about 2am in Batu Lanchang market. Police reports were lodged following the incident.
Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong said MBPP installed cameras at the Batu Lanchang and Jelutong markets after receiving complaints from traders.
“Thefts still happen occasionally but CCTV footage helps with police reports. Some culprits wear helmets, so identification can be difficult, but the situation has improved,” he said.
Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo said six CCTV units were added at the Pulau Tikus market last November to cover blind spots.
“Since then, no thefts have been reported,” he said.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the city council had installed CCTV cameras at 28 locations, including 18 markets.
“The rollout continues in stages based on security needs.
“Recordings are stored locally and can be accessed when required,” he said.
He added that the security cameras were an effective deterrent, dissuading would-be thieves from pilfering goods when they notice the cameras.
Across Penang, both city councils operate more than 1,300 public security cameras – about 1,100 on the island and 240 on the mainland.
The surveillance system includes facial-recognition software that can alert the police if a wanted person is caught on camera.
Penang’s network of CCTVs and coordinated policing contributed to its strong showing in this year’s Global Local Safety Index, where the state was ranked the 77th safest place in the world with the lowest crime rate among five major cities in the country.
