Tyre thieves walk into trap set up by owner after social media post

0

The suspects’ car seized by police for investigation.

MIRI: An attempt to sell stolen car tyres and rims via social media proved to be the downfall of a man and a woman after their prospective buyer turned out to be the owner of the stolen property.

The arrest of the suspects, aged 25 and 27, took place around 1am on Sunday after the owner set up a meeting with them at a petrol station in Permyjaya.

The theft occurred around 3pm on Saturday when the victim went to fetch her car and realised her tyres and rims had been stolen.

Later the same day, she came across a post on a social networking site which offered to sell car tyres and rims that resembled hers.

Posing as a prospective buyer, she contacted the person who made the post to arrange a meeting, and then notified the police who followed her to the petrol station.

Upon positively identifying the items as hers, police personnel swooped in to arrest the duo and seized their vehicle.

Deputy district police chief Supt Stanley Jonathan Ringgit confirmed the case when contacted yesterday, saying police have classified the case under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.