Car theft victims told not to give in to criminals

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SIBU: Acting police chief Supt Zamani Hamdan has slammed those whom he said have been cooperating with criminal syndicates to recover their stolen vehicles.When contacted yesterday, he said the police would not tolerate this because when their cars were stolen, they should go to the police for help instead of going to criminals.

He confirmed that there were syndicates specialising in such thefts, saying their modus operandi was to steal expensive cars like four-wheel drive vehicles and then call the owners to let them know that their cars are in their keeping.

He said the syndicate members would then demand payment in return for the ‘stolen’ cars.

“We know some victims have given in. They want to avoid trouble and they just pay the syndicates.”

Zamani said from their information, the victims were willing to pay even up to RM20,000 to RM30,000.

He said when the syndicate had received the money the stolen cars would be released.

He said syndicate members would normally keep the stolen cars outside the business district like at car parks in remote areas or they might even drive them to a neighbouring town and asked the victims to pick them up from there.

“We do not encourage the victims to work with the criminals. If the victims continue to do that, it will keep the syndicates alive and encourage them to steal more cars.”

Zamani said should victims receive calls from syndicate members about their cars, they should immediately call the police and not act on their own.

He said the police had vowed to sweep the town clean of such crimes this year, and to keep going, they need the public to help.

“We are determined to kick more criminals out, and if the victims of car thefts work with us, we can achieve it.”

He said armed with the Emergency Ordinance, they were ready for action.

Under the ordinance, the police normally arrest criminals and detain them for 60 days while awaiting for an order from the Home Ministry.

Regarding the 10 criminals kicked out by them last year, they either ended up in Simpang Renggam Detention Centre or were put in restricted residence.

Zamani said this yesterday when commenting on the arrest of two men who were in possession of a stolen Toyota Harrier when police stormed their rented house in Teku Barat Road at 5am on Sunday.

Found with them were also housebreaking tools, drug-taking implements and numerous vehicle registration plates.

The acting police chief confirmed the Toyota Harrier was stolen last Friday.

“We believe the two suspects could be from such a syndicate. We are trying to trace whether they are still in possession of other stolen cars.”

He said the police believed the two might have network with other criminals in Miri, Bintulu and Kuching.

“To kick such criminals out, the victims must give evidence, direct evidence; not hearsay, for us to apply the Emergency Ordinance.”