Some of the tools that are believed to be used by the suspect to break into houses.
KOTA KINABALU: A local man was investigated in connection with at least 11 burglary cases after he was caught allegedly trying to break into a house in Putatan last month.
The 26-year-old was arrested by police on August 27 around 6.50pm in a car near the double storey house, said Penampang police chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh.
He said a team of police on patrol spotted the suspect acting suspiciously in a vehicle and upon inspection found numerous tools believed to be used by the suspect for housebreaking.
Singh (centre) and other police officers with the recovered stolen items.
“The suspect was taken to the Penampang police headquarters and investigation showed the suspect was involved in 11 burglary cases around Penampang and Putatan.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspect was involved in other burglary cases in Kota Kinabalu and Papar since January this year,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Police investigation showed that most of the stolen items, such as laptops, cameras, handphones and jewelry were sold to unsuspected individuals or pawnshops around the city centre, he added.
Singh said five people have so far been detained separately by police between August 28 and September 6 for buying the stolen items from the suspect.
“The five individuals, in their 20s and 60s, were detained to assist police in our investigation,” he said, adding that police have also recovered about RM35,000 worth of stolen items that were sold to them by the suspect.
“Police believe the suspect was not only involved in 11 burglary cases in Penampang and Putatan, but also in other districts such as in Papar as well as the state capital.
“We will refer this case to our counterparts for further action,” said Singh.
He said the case would be investigated under Section 457, 379 and 411 of the Penal Code for housebreaking, theft and concealing stolen property respectively.