Panic button in petrol stations to alert cops

http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/2223248/Article/index_html

2008/04/25

Panic button in petrol stations to alert cops

PETALING JAYA: More than 280 Shell petrol stations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan have been linked to the nearest police headquarters to prevent robberies.
Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the Shell petrol stations were linked to police operation centres and the Rakan Cop alert system."In the event of a robbery, a worker at the station will push a panic button that will alert police in just five seconds."An alert will also be sent to the station's owner and other Shell petrol stations nearby," said Khalid after launching the Rakan Cop Programme for Retail Stations in the Central Region of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan at a Shell petrol station in Persiaran Bandar Utama here yesterday.He said the alert system, developed by Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, would enable police to respond faster in case of robberies.

Khalid said the system would also alert all petrol stations about possible multiple robbery attempts. "This system will enable us to achieve three things in case of a robbery. Firstly, the chances of nabbing the robbers will be bigger. Secondly, we will be able to interview witnesses at the scene and, thirdly, we can retrieve evidence at the crime scene." He also commended Shell for its efforts in helping police curb crime and called on other petroleum companies to set up a similar system. Shell Malaysia Trading national sales manager Shairan Huzani Hussain said the implementation of the system in the central region was due to the success of its pilot programme in Johor last year."After fitting 120 of our stations in Johor with the system, we saw a 76 per cent reduction in crimes committed at our stations last year compared with 2006. Only four cases were reported last year." Shairan said Shell had trained its station crews on safer ways to handle daily earnings and transporting of cash for 24-hour stations.Shairan said 400 of its 900 petrol stations had enrolled in the Rakan Cop Programme for Retail Stations so far.

See also: Honolulu Crime Stoppers