Burglary syndicate busted in Labuan

LABUAN: Police have crippled a burglary syndicate actively breaking into houses in the dutyfree-island here, with the arrest of five people, including a woman end of last month.

Labuan police chief Superintendent Muhamad Farid Ahmad said a special team from criminal investigation department (CID) arrested the five suspects who are recidivist, aged 30 to 37, between June 28 to 30 in downtown.

“We believe we have resolved at least eight robbery cases around town, Jumidar Buyong housing estate and Taman Perumahan Bedaun with the arrest of the suspects,” he told Bernama yesterday.

He said the members of the syndicate had previously been involved in various illegal activities including drug abuse, break-ins, trespassing and possession of dangerous weapons.

Farid said the syndicate was believed to have been involved in a number of break-in cases since last year and their modus operandi was to break into the targeted location in the wee hours.

“All the suspects have been remanded since the date of arrest and extended until today for further questioning on another case,” he said.

Police also seized stolen items from them including various brands of watches, sun glasss, eight units of handphones, two tablets iNew and iOne, ASUS gaming laptop, gold ring and pawn receipts.