Burglary ring targeting luxury condos crippled

GEORGE TOWN: Police believe they have smashed a burglary syndicate targeting luxury condominiums in the country with the arrest of a Perak couple.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan said the breakthrough was achieved when they picked up a husband and wife, aged 38 and 35 respectively, in a house in Klang, on Saturday.

“We found jewellery, cash including foreign currency, watches, handbags, commemorative coins, passports, a multi-purpose vehicle and other luxury items worth about RM300,000 during the raid,” Comm Thaiveegan told reporters at the state police contingent headquarters yesterday.

He said the man had a criminal record for six cases involving drugs and break-ins.

“We are looking for three other members of the syndicate,’’ he added.

Comm Thaiveegan said the syndicate, believed to have been active since 2015, could be involved in over 70 burglaries, including 20 in Penang.

Losses were estimated at about RM1mil.

“They would find a place to rent at the condos before breaking into adjacent units using a stun gun to attack their victims.

“They moved from place to place to avoid detection,” Comm Thaiveegan said.

The two suspects have been remanded till today but he said police would appeal for an extension.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Anuar Omar said the suspects

were on the police radar after they broke into a condominium unit owned by a Japanese couple in Jelutong on Jan 30.

“We followed them all the way to Klang before their arrest,” he said.

ACP Anuar said investigations revealed that the couple had about RM100,000 in bank savings and RM70,000 in fixed deposit.

Fleeing to safety: Fire and Rescue Department personnel evacuating flood victims in Stapang.

Business as usual: People waiting at the Long Loyang Clinic, Baram, northern Sarawak. Although the clinic was flooded, operations still continued on the second floor.

Major bust: Comm Thaiveegan (centre) and ACP Anuar (second from right) showing the luxury items seized from the burglary syndicate at the state police contingent headquarters.

In safe hands: Fire and Rescue Department personnel evacuating flood victims from Rumah Jimbun longhouse in Stapang, near Sibu.