Sometimes even the best intentions can go awry. A video showing a supposed snatch thief robbing a woman in a jewellery store in Kota Kinabalu has gone viral on social media.
The roughly three-and-a-half-minute video shows a man grabbing a bag containing jewellery from a woman at the counter of a shop and running out to the street. The video which looks supposedly like CCTV footage, has caused public alarm while making its rounds online.
Did this incident really happen?
VERDICT:
FALSE
According to acting Kota Kinabalu OCPD Supt Kalsom Idris, police managed to track down the store manager who informed the police that the video was actually staged as a security and safety awareness promotion tool.
"The manager informed us that the video was made to create security awareness among the public," she said, adding that the objective was to make people realise the importance of being aware of their surroundings.
Police have also asked the manager to lodge a police report to confirm that the incident was staged, she added.
Supt Kalsom said the police report would also reassure the public that there was no such incident as the video could create alarm among people in the area.
"We hope nobody will speculate further on the video. It is important to check the authenticity of videos spread on social media.
"Kota Kinabalu police are constantly on the alert (to safeguard) the people," she added.
