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Pickpockets in Johor buses allegedly target S'poreans & elderly M'sians
Bus passengers spoke to Sin Chew Daily about their observations.
Gracia Yap
May 12, 2026, 07:47 AM
Photos via Sin Chew Daily
Pickpockets on buses travelling to Johor Bahru, as well as other parts of Malaysia, have allegedly been active for years, where they are said to have targeted foreign workers, Singaporeans, or local elderly people.
Speaking to Sin Chew Daily's Johor community newspaper, passengers who frequently took the bus said they were already familiar with the pickpockets' appearance.
Appearance, targets
These pickpockets, they told Sin Chew, would reportedly split into groups of three to five and sneak onto buses, where they would steal valuables using backpacks as cover.
When bus passengers attempted to warn others of their actions, the pickpockets allegedly told them to "mind their own business", according to Sin Chew.
Most crimes committed on weekends
A 52-year-old commuter, Fang (transliterated), told Sin Chew that the pickpockets usually dressed well, wore caps and carried backpacks.
She added that most often committed crimes on weekends and public holidays when foreigners visited the city and shopping malls.
"When they commit the crime, they will cover their hands with a backpack and then steal the phone or purse when the victim is not paying attention," said Fang, adding that the pickpockets mostly targeted foreign workers and Singaporean tourists.
She noted, however, that they occasionally target locals as well, Sin Chew reported.
Fang said she had almost been robbed of her belongings but noticed in time and fought back, after which she became more careful and aware of their behaviour.
Passport stolen from pocket
Another passenger, 62, told Sin Chew that his passport was stolen from his right trouser pocket around five years ago when he took a bus alone between 7pm and 8pm.
Wen (transliterated), who was on a bus from one part of Johor to another at the time, said he later made a police report regarding the incident.
In addition, a commuter told Sin Chew that the pickpockets also allegedly committed their crimes on longer bus journeys.
Investigation
Following these incidents, the Johor Public Transport Authority's chief operating officer told Sin Chew that he had not received any complaints about pickpocketing incidents on buses.
Upon learning about the incidents, he then contacted the bus operator and requested that surveillance footage inside the bus be reviewed for investigation, Sin Chew reported, adding that he promised to follow up on this matter.
