Snatch theft cases in Kuala Lumpur has seen a 57 percent increase this year, according to Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim.

Mazlan said the total number of criminal cases recorded in the city from January to last Saturday has reached 11,815 cases.

He said since there has been an increase, police would carry out various initiatives to curb such crime. 

“In order to curb snatch theft cases, we will launch the anti-snatch theft and unarmed robbery crimes campaign in the near future. 

"I have also instructed the Kuala Lumpur Crime Investigation Department to form a strategic partnership with the D4 division (crime intelligence) and D9 (special investigation) to tackle such cases,” he told reporters after attending the Kuala Lumpur police contingent monthly assembly today. 

He said police would also conduct crime prevention through more effective community surveillance involving residents and police. 

-- Bernama