Cops thwart high-tech vehicle theft syndicate, arrest three
KUCHING: Police here have thwarted what could be the most modern vehicle theft syndicate in Sarawak with the arrest of three individuals on Oct 25.
Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah said the syndicate known as ‘Geng Ah Ann’ would use electronic devices to bypass a vehicle’s security system and its Global Positioning System (GPS).
“The syndicate was found to be using devices which are deemed sophisticated and high tech such as the RF FS (radio frequency, frequency sweep) Detector and a GPS signal jammer to target fourwheel-drive vehicles,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He added the syndicate was also found to be using devices which could enable them to start a car’s ignition and control its Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
The suspects, locals aged between 29 and 41, have a total of 50 police records involving vehicle theft, drugs and property crimes, he added.
“These repeat offenders were released under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 last year and became active again earlier this year in Kuching and neighbouring districts,” said Ahsmon.
He said the suspects operated in a small group and would sometimes use regular tools such as handheld drills and modified screwdrivers to break into a vehicle if they failed to use their high-tech devices.
With the arrests, Ahsmon said police have solved nine cases of vehicle theft involving losses amounting to RM700,000.
The stolen vehicles are believed to have been sold either locally or to a neighbouring country for around RM50,000 each, depending on the quality of the vehicle, he said.
“Police have also identified at least two persons of interest for investigation,” he added.
Ahsmon said the arrests were the result of efforts by the district police’s Counter Aggressive Team (CAT) which has so far crippled six vehicle theft syndicates.