SANDAKAN: The Police Criminal Investigation Department had solved 25 criminal cases with the arrest of 19 suspects in January this year.
District police chief ACP Mohd Azhar bin Hamin said police had also confiscated 71 stolen properties, including two vehicles used to commit crimes.
“Police had arrested 19 suspects including a woman aged 15 to 42 years old during various operations last month. Eleven of the suspects are locals and the rest are foreigners.
“Apart from that, 13 of the suspects tested positive for drugs abuse,” he said in a press conference held at Sandakan Town police station, yesterday.
He said the police also recovered some of the stolen items worth RM86,200 out of a total loss of RM102,280 in all the 25 reported cases.
Azhar said that two of the suspects aged 21 and 23 were arrested for committing 13 house-breaking cases by targeting houses in isolated areas between Mile 12 and Mile 30 in Sandakan.
The woman suspect, 23, who is a foreigner, was arrested on January 10 at Taman Rimba.
The woman, who worked as a maid, had lied to her employer by saying that seven men had broken into the house and she also cut off the CCTV inside the house.
However, the truth was finally revealed by the police who investigated the case. Police said the maid was involved in the theft of RM50,000, he explained.
In other development, Azhar reminded the public to be vigilant, especially during this upcoming Chinese New Year festival.
He hoped the public, who would be away on holidays, would notify their neighbours and police to enable them to carry out regular patrols.