KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) — Police have busted a syndicate involved in stealing 100 luxury cars worth RM2.2 million around the Klang Valley, following the separate arrests of three local suspects last week.
Kuala Lumpur police chief, Datuk Mohmad Salleh said with the arrests, police succeeded in uncovering the involvement of the three suspects in smuggling out stolen vehicles to neighbouring countries.
“The 27-year-old first suspect from Seremban was arrested last Thursday in front of the Sunway Medical Centre, Bandar Sunway, on suspicion of being involved in the theft of a Toyota Hilux at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre car park on Feb 19,” he told reporters, here, today.
He said following investigation on the suspect, police arrested two more suspects aged 28 and 33, from Seremban and Simpang Renggam, Johor, at an entertainment outlet in Jalan Loke Yew, Cheras, last Friday.
The three suspects who were tested positive for syabu, had been involved in stealing vehicles since early last year and sold the vehicles at around RM8,000 to RM20,000 each.
“Police found the buyers are their friends who were also responsible for smuggling out the stolen vehicle to neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that police believed the suspects sold the vehicles cheaply to buy drugs.
“Among the types of vehicles targeted by the syndicate were Toyota Hilux, Fortuner, Toyota Wish and Naza Sorento. The syndicate used immobilisers to turn off the alarm before stealing the vehicles,” he said.
Mohmad said the modus operandi of the syndicate was to temporarily place the stolen vehicles, given false plate numbers, in several public parking areas of supermarkets, housing areas and hotels.
“The vehicles were then taken away by their accomplices to be smuggled out to neighbouring countries by road,” he said.
He said following the arrests, police found 18 stolen vehicles and were still looking for the mastermind of the syndicate with the help of police from neighbouring countries.
Police will seek a court order to extend the remand period of the suspects to facilitate the investigation and to track down their accomplices.
— BERNAMA
