|
-- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
|
THE target: A crime-free Bishan.
The bearers of this crime-prevention message: 250 students from Raffles Junior College and nine other secondary schools and junior colleges, not the police.
The students fanned out yesterday to 2,000 households in Bishan estate to dispense tips to residents on how they can prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime.
They named the initiative Crime Zero @ Bishan.
Working in groups of four or five and equipped with posters and brochures, they knocked on doors to spread the anti-crime message: Their tips for residents? Do not deck yourselves out in expensive jewellery, do not enter lifts with male strangers if you are female and be cautious when strangers ask to be let into your homes.
The Crime Zero @ Bishan programme was jointly organised by a 12-member committee of RJC students and grassroots leaders from Bishan East and the Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Wong Kan Seng, who was at the launch of the programme, credited the police and vigilant citizens with Singapore's low crime rate.
He also said he was 'heartened' that the students had taken taken an interest in community affairs, because everyone had to play a part to keep neighbourhoods safe.
RJC students Teo Shu Li, 18, and Zhang Yi Tao, 17, came up with the idea of roping in their schoolmates to spread the crime-prevention message in the community when some of their friends lost their unattended belongings to thieves.
Plans are afoot to incorporate Crime Zero @ Bishan into the Community Safety and Security Programme, under which residents and grassroots work with the Home Team to keep the estate safe. Together with grassroots leaders, the students will patrol the neighbourhoods after school.
The organising committee also wants to work with other schools to extend the programme to other constituencies.
RJC student Long Xueping, 20, volunteered for the house visits yesterday as he has experienced crime first-hand: His home in China was burgled a few years ago.
He said: 'Although Singapore is safe, people should not think that crime will never happen to them. By volunteering, I have also become more familiar with the ways I can prevent crime too.'
|
