MAJOR SUCCESS: Police personnel check one of the seized cars.
SIBU: Police trailed a six-member group of car and motorcycle thieves before arresting three of them on Tuesday.
According to police, the group called themselves The Ah Long Gang not because they were involved in illegal money lending activities, but a few of them were actually named ‘Ah Long’ – a common nickname.
In a seven-hour operation starting 2pm, police arrested the trio, in their 20s to 40s, at Kampung Bandung, where they seized two cars in their possession.
A further probe led the cops to seize another two cars – one at Bukit Assek and the other at Salim Road.
Police found the one seized at Bukit Assek was reported lost on July 5 while parked near a hotel at Lanang Road.
They said the chassis number of one car had been tampered with, but they would get a forensic expert to deal with it.
The cops identified the three detainees as former inmates of Simpang Renggam Detention Centre who had organised a series of similar crimes.
They said the group had lain dormant for a while after their return, but became active again recently, stealing four-wheel drive cars, lorries, plush cars and motorcycles.
They believe the group comprised professional thieves, one of whom was a mechanic with knowledge of car parts and engines.
Their modus operandi was that after stealing a car, they would hide it. Then when a buyer has been found, they would ask him to go to a specified spot to drive away the stolen vehicle. Payment would be made via bank transaction.
Police found in one of the seized cars, tools including a spanner, screw driver, lorry spare tyre and pair of gloves.
They also found some drug-taking apparatus, but have yet to confirm whether the three are drug addicts.