KOTA KINABALU: Police have arrested three men suspected of being involved in stealing spare tyres of four-wheel-drive vehicles parked in and around the state capital.
The three men, aged between 20 and 33 years old, were from Tuaran, City police chief ACP M Chandra, said.
Two of the men were ex-convicts and all three tested positive for drug abuse, he added.
According to him, the police had received a report from a staff of the Land and Survey Department informing that the spare tyres of two of the department’s vehicles had been stolen.
The theft was discovered about 9.30am on October 4 and a police report was lodged immediately. Based on the report, police began their investigations which led to the arrest of the three men at Manggatal town about 8.30 pm on Saturday.
One of the suspects led police to Telipok Ria near Tuaran where they recovered 10 tyres and five rims which were believed to be part of the suspects’ stolen merchandise.
“The police team also seized a Perodua MyVi car, a modified iron rod, three spanners and a wire cutter, all of which are believed used in the criminal activities,” Chandra said, adding that initial investigations revealed that the three men had stolen the department’s vehicles’ spare tyres on October 6.
The suspects also admitted to being involved in the theft of vehicle spare tyres around the state capital and they had been active since July this year. Their modus operandi was to target four-wheel-drive vehicles that were left in the parking areas, Chandra pointed out.
“I would like to remind the public not to purchase items of unknown origin. I would also like to express our gratitude to the public for providing information that led to the arrest of the three men,” he said.