In the first nine months of last year - 2002 - robbery cases involving elderly victims increased by 16 per cent, from 61 to 71 cases, compared to the same period in 2001.

As the economy struggles to get back to its feet, criminals are likely to continue targetting the elderly, for they appear to be easier prey than, say younger adults. The reason for this is clear - the elderly are not as mobile or as agile as those younger. Therefore, they can’t put up much of a defence when accosted by criminals lurking in the vicinity, looking for easy prey.

There have been news reports on such crimes. In fact, one or two victims have appeared on television during the evening news recently. 

Just two days ago, on Saturday, I was a witness to what would have been another robbery case involving an elderly victim. I had just bought breakfast and was about to turn into the stairs in the void deck of my block of flats in Hougang when I noticed a man dismounting from his bicycle and approaching an old woman who was sitting alone in her wheelchair next to the staircase.

The man, who apparently had thought the coast was clear, was taken aback when I appeared out of nowhere. He stopped in front of his parked bicycle. When I laid eyes on him, I was just next to the old woman and about to make my way up the stairs so I didn’t make much of the chance meeting. However, as I climbed the stairs, my sixth sense was aroused. So were my suspicions! I paused on the staircase landing.

I tried to look downwards into the staircase entrance and could make out the man was standing next to the old lady. He was obviously doing something but I just couldn’t see the two of them from where I was. I heard the woman shouting loudly a name which I learnt later was the maid’s name.

One half of me was telling me to stay put and not poke my nose into other’s affairs and the other was exhorting me to go to the old lady’s assistance. I admit I am not brave but the thought of a harmless old lady being abused somehow rang alarm bells in me and I found myself rushing down the stairs.
 
The man, on seeing me, rushed to his bicycle. When I took out my handphone and started punching some numbers, he got onto his bicycle and fled. I looked around. The old lady was unharmed, although she was quite frightened. Fortunately, nothing was taken from her - she was wearing a thick gold bracelet on one wrist and some rings.

It was 10 am at the time and I had just got through to 999. I told the officer on the line the whole happening and gave a brief description of the man, together with the direction he had fled towards. At about 10.45 am, an officer rang me to tell me a suspect fitting the description I had given had been found.
 
The police’s speed in attending to the case simply amazed me! I am glad the policemen charged with protecting the neighbourhood were very effective in carrying out their duties.

I was also glad that I had somehow found the courage to knock myself out of nonchalance to help the old lady. We never know how we would come out of a situation like this until it happens to us. I am no hero, really, just someone who has discovered that he can conquer the weaker half of himself if the need arises.

The old lady was lucky this time round. I figure she will not let her maid leave her alone again in the void deck. It pays to be vigilant. Just keep an alert eye when moving around in the neighbourhood. Report suspicious characters to the police. Be on the lookout, especially for suspicious-looking people on bicycles. I have since learnt that these criminal elements tend to prefer using bicycles. The reason is clear - someone running away will attract lots of attention, but someone fleeing on bicycle won’t attract much attention. 

Just last week, a nephew of mine asked for help in his school science homework. He’s in Primary 3 at Sengkang Primary School. The question asked in the workbook was: Describe two differences between a zebra and a tiger. I told him one of the two differences was that a zebra had a mane whereas a tiger did not have one. He wrote down the answer accordingly.

The next day, he came to me with the following remark: My teacher says that a zebra does not have a mane. Only a lion has a mane. My nephew further volunteered that he had erased the answer on the zebra’s mane and written the teacher’s CORRECT answer in its place.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Immediately, I went onto the Internet and surfed to sites with pictures of a zebra’s mane using the Google search engine. I showed my nephew these pictures and pointed to him the mane behind the zebra’s head.

Granted his science teacher might not have seen a zebra before. I thought perhaps the teacher should get back to my nephew after getting the facts first, but instead she took it on herself to assert that a zebra had no mane.

I am relating this incident because I know children at Primary 3 tend to be impressionable. And they tend to think that what their school teacher says is always right - after all she’s a teacher at school! And those at home can’t be more knowledgeable than their school teacher!

I am sure such incidents are commonplace. At least, now, my nephew knows I was not pulling a fast one on him.