MAKKAH, 5 March 2004 - Makkah residents are up in arms over reckless joyriders near their houses and are calling for police to crack down on them, Al-Nadwa reported. The late night rollicks is causing many residents to worry about leaving their homes at night, especially with motorbike racing right outside their doors.
Resident Ibraheem Oraija said, "I am sometimes woken up at night by the sounds of tires screeching from different locations in the neighborhood. Most of the time they race their motorbikes and do dangerous things like speeding on one wheel. I even think these joyriders enjoy annoying us. We are afraid for our children."
Yahya Al-Malki said, "These joyriders are mostly youngsters doing it without their families knowing. Sometimes they start at 9 p.m. and continue until past midnight. We have complained repeatedly but so far nothing has been done. Sometimes when we go to the mosque to pray, they are outside joyriding and putting us in danger. Where are the police? Where is the ministry to promote virtue and prevent vice? These people are not only killing us, but also themselves. We want the police to put an end to it."
Police officials said they are organizing search teams and meanwhile the secret police are recording the license plates of any cars involved in joyriding.
