The Kuala Lumpur police are reviewing areas in the city to be declared as new hotspots in line with the continuous efforts to reduce street crime especially snatch thefts.          

Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Zulkifli Abdullah said this was a follow up to the pioneer project implemented earlier and recorded a positive result with a significant drop in the crime rate.     

"The crime rate in locations declared as hotspots in August 2009 in the Kuala Lumpur area had shown a decline and this year, we are reviewing new hotspot areas.     

"As such, we want the crime rate in the new locations which will be identified later to also show a decline after the implementation of various initiatives to fight crime," he told reporters after a dialogue session with residents of the Kerinchi Public Housing Project, Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur today.     

Previously, 11 areas had been identified namely Bukit Bintang and Jalan Pudu placed under the jurisdiction of the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters, Brickfields and Kuchai Park (Brickfields Hq).      

The other areas are Taman Midah, Taman Connaught, Alam Damai and Bandar Sri Permaisuri (Cheras Hq), Jinjang Utara, Metro Prima Kepong and Danau Kota (Sentul Hq).      

He said police would also use the K9 dog unit in carrying out patrols in several selected areas in Kuala Lumpur in efforts to maintain security and prevent crime.     

"The areas will be identified and for the time being, we will start in Cheras and Brickfields and we hope the crime index can be reduced even further," he said.     

Zulkifli said the deployment of the horse unit would be expanded in line with the current need especially in public parks to fight crime in public recreational areas.     

On the case of the three men armed with pistols who stole a security van carrying RM300,000 in cash in a robbery at Taman Segar, Cheras on Jan 10, he said police had received a lead in tracking down the suspects.      

- Bernama