SIBU: A 41-year-old man was arrested by police on Monday (Aug 24) on suspicion of being involved in three robbery cases within a day last Friday (Aug 21).
The suspect was arrested in front of a house in Jalan Kampung Hilir at around 1.30am.
District police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the suspect impersonated a policeman to commit the crimes.
“In the first case on Aug 21, the suspect fled with a motorcycle from a house in Jalan Hose at 9.30am.
“The suspect introduced himself as a policeman and wanted to inspect the victim’s Modenas Kriss motorcycle.
“He then asked the victim to go to the police station to reclaim the motorcycle.
“The victim was not able to catch the suspect as the incident happened quickly. The victim went to the Sibu police station and realised that she had been deceived and lodged a police report regarding the incident,” he said in a statement.
ACP Stanley pointed out that the second case occurred around 11am on the same day in which the suspect went to a grocery store in Jalan Kampung Hilir and introduced himself as a policeman to the shop assistant.
The suspect asked the victim to take out his mobile phone and hand it over to him.
“The suspect introduced himself as ‘Hairul’ and asked the victim to call the shopkeeper to give him RM1,000 and reclaim the mobile phone from the police station.
“The victim then contacted the shop owner and informed him of the matter. The victim lodged a police report regarding the incident after being deceived.”
The third case happened around 1.30pm in which the suspect robbed a man who was waiting for the bus in front of a private hospital in Jalan Oya.
“The suspect introduced himself as a policeman and approached the victim, asking him to take out his mobile phone stating that he wanted to check the victim’s mobile phone for gambling activities.
“The victim handed over the mobile phone and was asked to go to the police station to retrieve the mobile phone.
“The victim lodged a police report regarding the incident,” said ACP Stanley.
He said investigations found that the three incidents were carried out by the same suspect based on the victims’ description of the suspect, based on the shape of the face and body, clothing, conversation and motorcycle used.
“Examinations through a closed circuit television (CCTV) at the scene of the second incident found that the suspect was believed to be using a motorcycle stolen in the first incident but, the registration number was changed using a fake registration number (QSY674).
“The registered owner is still in the process of being traced by police.
“The owner of the motorcycle, the victim of the first case, identified the motorcycle used by the suspect in the second and third incidents, as belonging to the victim,” he explained.
ACP Stanley pointed out that the suspect was being locked up for further action and would be remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
