TAWAU: Police are searching for a car theft suspect who escaped into a jungle after he crashed a stolen four-wheel drive vehicle at Mile 6 Apas Road here on Saturday.
District police chief ACP Fadil Marsus said the police started looking for the suspect after a house break-in/car theft was reported at Kampung Paris 3 in Kinabatangan on January 29.
He said about 10pm, police received information that a Toyota Land Cruiser reported stolen in Kinabatangan district was heading to Tawau and was being chased by patrol car from another district.
He said Tawau police immediately set up a roadblock at Mile 10 near the Bandar Sri Indah roundabout.
At 10.50pm, the suspect’s car appeared and rammed a police barricade in front of the roundabout and entered into the opposite lane at high speed, forcing the police to shoot at the suspect.
Fadil said police chased the suspect who drove in the opposite lane of the road leading to Tawau until he lost control of the vehicle at Simen Road junction and crashed into a house fence at Mile 6, Apas Toad. The suspect then escaped into a jungle.
He said police were continuing to track down the suspect who is six feet tall, wearing a knee length jeans and dark cloth.
Those with information of the suspect can contact the Tawau police hotline 772 121.