Our country's crime situation seems to be like the four seasons. Initially it was rape and murder which hogged the daily news, then bullying and other malaises at our schools compound and now snatch thefts, a petty crime that can turn fatal as several incidents have shown.

The mob justice on the snatch thief at Klang shows that our citizens' patience is running thin and would take the law into their own hand by beating the suspected criminal to death.

The police should get their priorities right for they are paid by public funds to ensure that law and order are fully complied with in this country. As enforcement officers, their credibility should be beyond reproach.

They should not turn a blind eye to crime that is happening on the streets. They must have the willpower to reject bribery and to be firm and fair when dealing with public regardless of the person's status.

But the litany of complaints by the public towards the police force shows that all is not well with our men in blue. The rising crime rate seems to show that the common criminal does not fear the law as much as he should.

I believe the majority of the snatch thieves are high on drugs and engage in this dastardly deed to pay for their regular supply. The scourge of drug abuse is the mother of all evils, as drug addicts who are high have no qualms in even killing their own kin for money to feed their drug habit.

Get rid of this scourge and half the battle for safe streets and neighborhoods us to live in peace and harmony is own.

The relevant agencies should get to the root of the problem as this vicious circle of snatch thieves and drug abuse seem to go hand in hand. But catching them and throwing them into jail won't solve the problems as once released, they will continue their criminal ways.

We, the public, too should work with the relevant authorities to solve these situations from becoming a national disease and tarnishing the name of our country among tourists. As they say prevention is better than cure.

It would be good too, if the politicians stop talking through their noses on how to stop crime. The citizens have just given the present government a mandate to rule for the next five years and surely making our streets safer is not asking for too much.