It's "Luke, I am your father." in Latin.
I was at the launch of a "crime prevention device" on a weekend some time back. That was all I was told before going there. And yes, I spent a while coming up with theories on just wtf it would be.
I've never had much faith in the Singapore Police Force. Personal experiences that would involve too much re-telling. But if they'd come up with something that detects crime and warns people of it...well, I'd eat my hat. Rather placid vow, considering I don't own any hats.
But anyway. Imagine:
Old lady walks down a dark, narrow alley late at night. Her attention is focused on her footing, and she does not see the sinister shadow that stealthily moves up behind on her.
Suddenly, light floods the area. Sirens go off and a stern mechanical voice booms.
"WARNING WARNING. YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE THE VICTIM OF A ROBBERY. THE SUSPECT IS MALE, CHINESE AND LOOKS TO BE IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES. HE HAS A MOLE ON HIS CHIN AND A BADLY DONE TATTOO OF A BUTTERFLY ON HIS RIGHT BUTTOCK. A POLICE CAR IS BEING DISPATCHED TO THE AREA."
I'd be sold on the "Home Team" slogan the police have. Go, police!
But no. It was in fact...well, I'll tell you shortly.
I was intrigued by a trio doing interviews there. One man, two women. The guy was quite large, standing about a head above my 1.75m. Long sleeved shirt and pants, professional looking bag, glasses, and hair neatly gelled back. One of the two females was in what looked to me to be her early thirties, dressed in what I will call immaculate smart casual, with her hair cut in a neat, utilitarian bob. The last could have been a sweet young thing, in her simple Tee and Jeans. Dark circles marred otherwise delicate features, a sure sign of tight deadlines. Some effort had been put into hair colour, but lack of attention had it frizzed and peroxide-ish.
Interesting also was how they took notes. Big Guy had a pad which he wrote in, but infrequently. Matron's pen almost never left hers. I snuck a peek at Matron's pad - she wrote really fast.
She'd gone and invented some kind of new language altogether, it seemed. I know of shorthand, but hers were just a series of wavy line. The sort you do when testing a pen to see if it writes. Talk about pro.
WorkaholicSYT seemed by far the smartest. She had a voice recorder. I was quite amused at the way she shoved it at the important people speaking. Any closer and they'd be tasting it. It wasn't some budget cassette thing (which I have) either. Slim, sexy, sleek and screaming chic. Yes.
The three worked together, all taking notes (with exception of wSYT) as each took their turn to ask questions. All very efficient, very no-nonsense. I stood by the side and leeched their interview. Think I irked Matron in the process - I'm not sure if those were disdainful looks she gave me.
During a lull, I went up to Big Guy and ExcuseMe-d him. Had to try thrice before he heard me, for the sound to travel the distance up to him. He was very nice, though. Yes, they were from the press. He was writing for a Chinese paper, and Matron was the Straits Times. wSYT I didn't catch. My first thought was she was apprenticing under Matron, but they worked quite independently. Bug Guy spoke very well, and considering he writes for a newspaper in Chinese, all I can say is - outclassed.
Ah, the press. That land of grey paper and ink that is known for its crazy pace, but oh-so-prestigious.
And here are the writeups on the event:
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Story 1 -
"Thieves" drive home crime prevention message
Two thieves will greet drivers pulling into the multi-storey carpark at Block 126A, Bukit Merah View.
They are not the real deal, mind you, just life-size posters.
The two cut-outs and a sensor-activated lightbox with the anti-theft message "Don't Tempt Me", are part of a pilot project launched yesterday to remind motorists not to leave their CashCards and valuables in their vehicles.
One poster is placed at the entrance of the carpark. The other is on the wall to the left of the ramp connecting the first deck to the second.
When a motorist drives up the second deck, a motion detector on the ceiling near the ramp will activate the lightbox installed at the other end of the deck. The message "Don't Tempt Me" will flash for five seconds, reminding drivers to practise crime prevention and not leave things to chance.
The project was launched by the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Ms Indranee Rajah. It was initiated by Bukit Merah West Neighbourhood Police Centre of Clementi Police Division headquarters after a spate of thefts from vehicles at the same carpark.
Some residents contacted said the project was a good idea.
Madam Judy Tan, 48, a Citizen-On-Patrol volunteer, said: "We hope it will work."
Story 2 -
Making Bukit Merah View a safer place
Prepare to be flashed when you drive in to the multi-storey car park at Block 126A Bukit Merah View.
It’s a new crime prevention sensor, launched on 17 September at the function hall beside Block 126A. Imagine driving into the car park at night, after a long day’s work. Your vehicle activates the sensor, and a dark wall lights up with a picture of someone breaking into a car. Bold text reminds you to lock your car – and not leave valuables behind.
It’s a reminder tired drivers often need. Nobody wants their car broken into – but sometimes we forget not to encourage thieves.
This project was an effort by Clementi Police Division to reduce crime. At the launch, SUPT Anthony Ng, Commander of the Division, also presented certificates of appointment to the neighbourhood COPs – Citizens on Patrol. They are members of Bukit Merah View Zone “B” RC, and patrol the neighbourhood at least once a week in groups of about ten people. Patrols last about two hours, and anything suspicious is reported to the police.
NPCC groups from Crescent Girls’ School and Gan Eng Seng School came to look after the exhibits and answer any questions residents had. Mr Chua, OC of GESS NPCC, felt it was a great chance for the troops to get exposure, and gain experience talking to the public.
Everyone was involved. As Ms Indranee Rajah, guest of honour for the event said, “Tackling crime is not just a police affair. They cannot be everywhere. Everyone must do their part.”
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One I can only assume was by Matron, and the other is my version that hasn't yet gone through Mr Ancob's editing. Even taking into account the different focuses due to publication, I'd say I have a long way to go before I get that sort of rapid-fire efficiency in my writing. Something a lot of people fail to realize, and I've only done recently, is that plain, unbiased and effective journalistic writing can be the hardest thing.
And I'm not sure I want to lose the eccentric bit of my writing, or am happy about what I've already lost.
But, yes. Was interesting to be able to see what someone a few leagues above myself wrote about the same event.
Let us not forget the issue at hand:
That is one sad crime prevention device.
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