World Scene: Malaysia

Police to shame thieves

Malaysian police yesterday proposed curbing an epidemic of violent "snatch thefts" by shaming culprits who would be forced to sweep the streets and wear signs revealing their crime.

Violent thefts are rampant in Malaysia, typically carried out by pairs of criminals riding on motorbikes, but there has been a fresh uproar after the deaths of two pregnant women who were thrown to the ground while being robbed.