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Vehicle break in mastermind caught

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Awang Din (third left), his deputy Supt Merbin Lisa (second left) along with his subordinates showing the items stolen by the suspect.

KUCHING: The mastermind behind a number of vehicle break ins around Kuching was finally caught on Saturday (Feb 6).

Members of the public, who park their vehicles at recreation areas, often face problems where their vehicles are broken into and their personal valuables stolen.

District police chief ACP Awang Din Awang Gani said the suspect, in his early 40s, was caught in the act of breaking into a car around 7.30am in the parking lot of the State Library in Petra Jaya.

“After months of intelligence, the suspect was successfully detected and arrested.  The suspect committed the crime by himself with a Perodua Alza as his main vehicle,” he said.

He revealed that the suspect’s modus operandi was to observe his victim’s vehicle first from his car before committing the crime. Such crimes normally occurred as early as 6am.

“When a vehicle owner exits his vehicle and starts exercising, the suspect will break in through the car window by using a modified screwdriver as it does not make noises and then takes away the valuables,” said Awang Din.

He added the suspect’s target areas were at the State Library, Saradise BDC, Taman Sahabat, MBKS Recreational Park and Reservoir Park.

“Apart from that, the suspect also targeted locations where the vehicles were parked without any closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance.

“The suspect’s confession revealed that he was involved in about 20 car break ins and theft cases around Kuching and all cases have been identified and reported previously,” said Awang Din.

Awang Din (fourth right) along with his men showing the suspect’s car used in the crime.

Following the mastermind’s arrest, a Kuching CID team managed to detain a man in his mid-40s around 3pm on the same day.

After questioning, the individual admitted that he was a buyer for most items stolen by the car break in mastermind and the stolen items he had bought included a laptop, phone and others.

Awang Din said further investigations would continue until all those involved, especially the buyers of stolen goods, were arrested and charged in court.

Both suspects, who have past records related to property crime but are negative for drugs, have been remanded until Feb 11 to facilitate investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for stealing which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and for the second offence, the offender can be fined or whipped.

Individuals who purchase stolen goods, will also be investigated under Section 414 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of seven years, or a fine or both.

Any members of the public, who have fallen victim to the crime, are urged to appear at the nearest police station or contact ASP Baharuddin (Intelligence/ Operations Officer) at 013-5654600 and Sergeant Suffiani (Investigating Officer) at 013-3135262 to provide more information as well as to identify the items that were successfully confiscated from the suspect.

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