Couple remanded over snatch theft spree

MELAKA: Police recovered 87 items belonging to victims of snatch thefts from a couple who were arrested last month.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said the duo had committed the thefts in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin districts since February.

Police got a break when they arrested the 29-year-old male suspect, known as Along Mamak, in Sungai Udang here on July 23.

“Policemen on crime prevention rounds spotted the jobless man loitering suspiciously in Taman Sungai Udang at 1.15am that day.

“He was arrested when checks found he was riding a stolen motorcycle,” DCP Abdul Jalil told reporters at the state police headquarters in Bukit Beruang here yesterday.

He said police then nabbed the suspect’s accomplice, a 24-year-old single mother, when she came to the Alor Gajah district police headquarters at 3pm on July 25.

DCP Abdul Jalil said the couple, who tested positive for methamphetamine, admitted to committing the thefts during interrogation.

They were remanded until Aug 15 to facilitate investigations under Sections 379, 392 and 395 of the Penal Code.

“Among the items seized were two motorcycles, six handbags, 10 MyKads, 11 driving licences and four handphones,” DCP Abdul Jalil said.

He urged those who were snatch theft victims in the state between February and July to go to the state police headquarters to identify their belongings.

He also said police were tracking down two other couples to help investigations.