Our homes should be one of our safe spaces, especially at the end of a long, busy day. Unfortunately for local radio DJ Emely Poon (潘毖伶), there is no longer safety in her house, not since her neighbour kept breaking in!
Emely Poon has been facing an intruder in her studio apartment for the past few months, however, 11th July was the first time she was aware of it, and the first time she laid eyes on him. The incident has left her shaken and scared and we can’t blame her!
According to Emely, she had been returning to her studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur at Sutera Pines on Monday morning around 9.30am when she discovered something horrifying. “The TV was on, playing a program I’m not familiar with. Then, a man in a red top and baggy shorts (walked) out of my studio’s kitchen,” she shared. Emely had immediately whipped out her phone to record the situation while shouting for help.
“Why did you do this? How did you get in here?” she demanded but the man stayed silent. He later admitted to having broken in three to four times, adding that he was familiar with the building, and often used to fire escape, while avoiding the CCTVs, to climb into her yard and break in. He also admitted to having attempted to sneak in roughly a dozen times in the past two months.
“Because he knew it was my home, he would choose to enter when I am (working) in the morning, then leave before I get off work,” Emely explained. She added that this time, her schedule had differed from the norm, which caught him off-guard. However, security guards allegedly claimed they had seen the man attempting to break in after 9pm as they had spotted him on her balcony.
Another neighbour later claimed that they had seen the intruder in her house many times. “I thought he lived (there),” they said, adding that he had definitely been there more than the four times mentioned. “I saw him every time I return from work,” they stated. The neighbour also alleged that the intruder had been using her shower, as he often smelled fragrant in passing when he exited her house.
“I’m so scared because I can’t predict when he’ll break into my house again. (I don’t) know what his purpose is. (I don’t) know what he’s doing in my house. I can’t defend myself,” Emely admitted. “This is supposed to be the place I feel safest in. Now, it’s become the most dangerous.”
She added that the guards had apparently reprimanded the intruder several times for being naked on his own balcony. “If he had been sternly warned the last time he was repeatedly naked on the balcony, would he have grown so courageous as to sneak into my house as many as four times?” she questioned.
To make matters worse, Sutera Pines’s management allegedly refused to help with the situation. Emely claimed security had only arrived five minutes after she started shouting, despite them being nearby. The head of management also reportedly said: “It’s the girl’s fault if she is attractive, and she is to be blamed when something bad happens,” after hearing about the incident.
The situation has left Emely Poon distressed and worried, not only for herself but for other women as well. “If I am one of the lucky ones this time, (what about) the little girls, female students, workers, mothers and (other) women who (I see), are they safe?” she asked. “Can we really (live) peacefully?”
Emely later shared that she had filed a police report against the intruder, adding: “This is not a prank!” Unfortunately, Emely then added that the man had only been fined RM3000 for his misdemeanor. She also reminded her followers, especially those who live alone, to install a CCTV in their house, just in case. Netizens have since advised Emely to move out of the place immediately, however, that is easier said than done.
Our heart goes out to Emely Poon, and we sincerely hope she’s staying safe. We also hope others living alone will take necessary precautions to protect themselves. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Watch the video here:
