'Help us to keep your community crime-free'

Dubai: Sharjah Police have called on residents in the Al Yarmook area to provide online suggestions as to how they can step up security after a woman was attacked in her home last week.

Shaken residents, especially women, are worried they too could be the victim of an attack, particularly in quiet locations.

The 32-year-old Indian housewife was allegedly attacked and robbed of her jewellery during the day while her husband was at work. She is recovering from her ordeal at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah.

The majority of residents who spoke to Gulf News said they would feel more secure if the police stepped up their patrols in the area.

A Sharjah police source yesterday said they already had police patrols in the area. In a bid to be more open to residents Sharjah police yesterday urged them to provide suggestions as to how maintain security. According to a 2007 Sharjah Police report thefts and robberies in Sharjah have increased by 40 per cent, According to the report there were 19,543 various crimes.

The online suggestion system which was launched yesterday is called Your Idea for the Security of your Society. Speaking to Gulf News a cross-section of Al Yarmook residents said they had plans to submit a written request to Sharjah Police to ask for more patrols in the area.

"The incident which took place last week has given risen to concerns on the safety of our wives and children while they are alone at home. The attack on the woman last week took place in the morning in daylight. I am sure that the police are doing their best but such incidents are always worrisome for residents," Venugopal, a resident, said.

Radhika, an Indian housewife, said the incident had made her jittery.

"I keep checking over and over again whether all the doors and windows are properly secured while I am alone at home," she said.

Iqbal Ahmad Qhureshi ,a Pakistani resident, said the area was always in the news for petty crimes.

"I was told that the police have opened an online suggestion scheme. It will be of great use for the public who can always post their feedback on it. People over here are just scared after the attack on the woman."

Action: Whom to contact

You can e-mail your suggestions to www.shjpolice.gov.ae or post them to PO Box 29 or send them by fax to 065382013.