KOTA SAMARAHAN: Police have dismantled a multi-district vehicle theft syndicate named ‘Along’ with the arrest of five locals, including a teenage girl recently.
Kota Samarahan police chief DSP Jaimi Husin said the suspects were arrested in two separate locations and several modified metal equipment used for vehicle theft activities, were also seized
The suspects comprise three men aged 26, 31, and 41, and two women aged 17 and 29.
“Investigations found that this syndicate had been operational since 2020 and their targets are mostly pick-up trucks and motorcycles in residential and commercial areas.
“Based on our intelligence, the stolen vehicles were intended for sale in a neighbouring country via illegal routes used by the syndicate.
“We are still continuing investigations to locate the case items and track down three more suspects who are still at large,” he told a press conference at the Kota Samarahan district police headquarters (IPD) this morning.
Following the arrests, the police have closed four cases in the district. In addition, preliminary probes linked the suspects to vehicle thefts in other districts such as Kuching, Simunjan and Bintulu.
“Once investigations are completed here, the suspects will be handed over to the respective IPDs for further investigations,” he added.
Background checks showed that the suspects have a combined total of 11 prior records related to various crimes.
Jaimi said one of the suspects is wanted by Jasin district police headquarters (IPD) in Melaka for a fraud case under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
He revealed that two of the suspects tested positive for drugs while, the others tested negative.
The suspects are remanded to facilitate investigations into the case under Section 379A of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment for a term of up to seven years and a fine, upon conviction.
Jaimi urged the public to channel information on criminal activities by contacting the Kota Samarahan IPD operations room or the nearest police station.
