Locked out of her home, Malaysian woman rents crane to take her four storeys up

Unwilling to pay a large sum of money to fix the damages caused if she broke in, Ms Ng wondered what she could do instead, and found inspiration after she saw someone using a lorry crane to cut trees along the road near her home.

Elaine Lee

Elaine Lee

The Straits Times

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The incident happened at an apartment building in Selangor on Jan 21. PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM TAMMY KIN NEE/FACEBOOK / THE STRAITS TIMES

January 23, 2024

SINGAPORE – Deciding that it was too expensive to break into her home after her electronic door lock malfunctioned, Ms Tammy Ng looked for an alternative way in.

Her solution? Hire a lorry crane to take her up.

The incident happened at an apartment building in Selangor on Jan 21.

Ms Ng, who lives on the fourth floor, told The Straits Times that she returned home on that day to discover that her lock had malfunctioned. She had left her master key inside the unit.

The 40-year-old getai artist said she considered engaging a locksmith but was told the issue could be resolved only by breaking the door, which would cost about RM800 (S$227).

This would also require her to replace her fire-rated door and the damaged anti-theft electronic lock, which would run up a further RM3,000.

Unwilling to pay, Ms Ng wondered what she could do instead, and found inspiration after she saw someone using a lorry crane to cut trees along the road near her home.

“The crane rental costs RM500, which I thought was very affordable,” she said.

A four-minute video clip of her returning home in style – and gleefully waving to onlookers below as the crane lifts her to her balcony – garnered more than 2,900 likes and 600 comments from netizens on Facebook.

In Ms Ng’s post, she said it was her first time riding a crane and it was a “cool” experience. Her wallet probably agrees.

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