Couple held over break-ins via ceiling

KOTA KINABALU: A married couple was among three people arrested by the police for breaking into four apartments via the ceiling.

The suspects were detained separately at Bambangan apartment and Kampung Kalasanan, both in Inanam between March 18 and March 20.

City police chief ACP M. Chandra said the arrests were made following a police report lodged by a 43-year-old victim after his residence at fourth floor, Block C, Bambangan apartment, Inanam was broken into around 6pm on March 18.

“On the day of the incident, the victim had just returned home from work when he realised that the front door was locked from the inside.

“He then heard footsteps inside his home and when he kicked open the front door, he saw a burglar fleeing the scene through the ceiling.

“After lodging the police report, a team of police arrived at the scene to carry out investigation which led them to a unit at Block B.

“As police knocked on the door, a fellow police officer, who was on the ground floor, saw a woman throwing four handbags out of her apartment.

“This prompted police to immediately storm the premises and detained the woman around 10pm the same day,” he said at a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.

Investigation at the woman’s apartment led to the recovery of numerous stolen items such as jewellery, LCD televisions, DVD players as well as tools and weapons, said Chandra.

“The arrest of the 18-year-old woman had led police to the detention of the woman’s 34-year-old husband and their 22-yearold accomplice at Kampung Kelasanan in Inanam around 11pm on March 20.

“Police also recovered several handphones, laptops, CDs and ladies’ perfume of numerous bands during the arrest,” he said, adding that close to RM15,000 worth of stolen items were recovered from both cases.

Meanwhile, Chandra said police investigation revealed the 34-year-old man, who is also the mastermind, had five criminal records.

He said the group, who had been in operation for the past two years, was also involved in six other house-breaking cases at Angkasa apartment, Bambangan apartment and Puri Warisan apartment with losses of about RM34,000.

“The modus operandi of this group is to target apartments on the top floor and they will enter and leave the premises from the ceiling.

“The suspects are being remanded for investigation under Section 457 of the Penal Code for housebreaking,” said Chandra.