Three Men Held As Kota Bharu Housebreaking Gang Busted

KOTA BHARU, May 18 (Bernama) -- Police have busted a housebreaking gang with the arrest of three men believed responsible for 13 such cases around the Kota Bharu district involving estimated losses of RM404,400.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the three suspects, aged between 28 and 36, were arrested in raids carried out from May 10 to 13.

He said all the suspects are locals, including one man of Myanmar descent.

“The modus operandi of the group, which has been active for the past three to four months, was to target empty houses during the day.

“They would conduct surveillance between 8 am and 9 am to identify houses left vacant after occupants had gone to work before breaking in to steal,” he told a press conference after the Kelantan police contingent's monthly assembly here today.

Mohd Yusoff said areas frequently targeted by the group included Perol, Peringat and several other locations around the Kota Bharu district.

He said initial investigations found that the group is believed to be involved in a housebreaking and car theft incident at a house in Lorong Tepi Tahfiz Ar-Raudhah, Kampung Perol, on April 28, which resulted in losses of about RM30,000.

He said initial investigations found that the group is believed to be involved in a housebreaking and car theft incident at a house in Lorong Tepi Tahfiz Ar-Raudhah, Kampung Perol, on April 28, which resulted in losses of about RM30,000.

Police also seized various items suspected to be linked to the housebreaking cases, including mobile phones, tablets, cameras, jewellery, watches, handbags, a Perodua Myvi, cash and tools believed to have been used to break into houses.

“Police checks found that the suspects are hardened criminals with extensive criminal records, comprising 14 drug-related and 16 other criminal offences. Preliminary urine screening also found all three tested positive for methamphetamine,” he said.

The three suspects have been remanded for seven days from May 13 to 19 to assist investigations under Section 457 of the Penal Code.

Asked whether the group was part of a syndicate, he said investigations are ongoing and police do not rule out further arrests.

-- BERNAMA