Five workshop owners held in Penampang’s biggest vehicle theft bust

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PENAMPANG: Police have busted what they believe is the biggest vehicle theft syndicate following the arrest of five workshop operators and the recovery of five luxury vehicles valued at RM400,000.

District police chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh said the suspects, aged between 20 and 30, were separately detained around the district and the state capital between August 13 and 21.

Ratan Kumar also said that police investigation showed the suspects were also involved in housebreakings.

“Continuous investigation has led police to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of five luxury vehicles, including a Toyota Prado, Toyota Hilux and Proton Saga.

“Police also believe investigations show that the vehicles were sold to buyers in Keningau, Penampang and Kota Kinabalu,” he said at a press conference at the Penampang police headquarters yesterday.

Ratan Kumar added police investigation showed that after stealing the vehicles, the suspects would strip them down and sell the parts as spare-parts.

He said the modus operandi of the suspects was that they would first break into a house when no one was at home and grab keys left hanging outside the porch, before driving away any vehicle that could be unlocked using the keys.

They would later change the whole engine of a stolen vehicle to prevent detection, he said.

The suspects have been remanded to be charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code.