Cops cripple three criminal gangs in Taiping

TAIPING: Taiping police have crippled three gangs involved in a series of robberies, house or shop break-ins and theft in the district following the arrest of the gang members throughout this month.

District police chief, ACP Harrith Kam Abdullah said the three gangs - identified as Wan Botak, Singgam and Along gangs - were believed to be active in criminal activities around Taiping and Kamunting since early this year.

He said the Along gang had four members who were unemployed and led by a 23year- old man, identified as Along who was picked up on July 14.

“Along and his gang members, aged between 19 and 23, had past criminal records including drug-related offences. Their remand orders end today. Police have seized watches, motorcycle engines, a pawn letter, 10 helmets and six mobile phones when they raided a house in Assam Kumbang,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

As for the Singgam gang, Harrith Kam said the group had been involved in 11 house or shop break-in cases and one case for motorcycle theft in Taiping.

The gang was led by a 33-yearold man, identified as Linggam, and his 30-year- old accomplice. Both men were unemployed, he said.

Harrith Kam also said Linggam had four criminal records while his accomplice had seven and tested positive for Methamphetamine.

He said the Wan Botak gang, on the other hand, which was active in the Kamunting area was made up of three men, aged between 25 and 30. They were detained on July 18.

“Apart from being tested positive for drug, the gang had also past criminal records including 12 armed robbery cases using machetes,” he said. — Bernama