Cops nab gang that stole luxury Toyota cars for sale in Thailand

Police say Geng Acu would steal Toyota models such as the Vellfire and Hilux.

KEPALA BATAS: Police say they have crippled a luxury car theft gang dubbed ‘Geng Acu’ with the arrest of the 39-year-old gang leader at his house in Tamam Bertam Ria, here last Friday.

Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Noorzainy Mohd Noor said police also arrested another man, aged 26, and the gang leader’s girlfriend, 36, based on intelligence and surveillance over the past two weeks.

The gang was believed to be involved in 21 luxury vehicle theft cases in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor, amounting to RM1.5 million, of which 17 cars were sold to the syndicate’s network in Thailand.

“The gang has also been active in house break-ins since last December after their leader was released after serving two years under the Prevention of Crime Act in Langkawi, Kedah,” he said at a press conference here today.

According to the police, each stolen vehicle would be sent to Thailand through the Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing. The gang would receive RM10,000 as commission while the buying and selling would be handled by the syndicate in Thailand.

Noorzainy said the suspects used a modified Allen key to break the windscreen then use a special application on a laptop computer to start the car engine which was usually equipped with a security system and a smart lock.

“The gang only targets luxury vehicles such as the Toyota vehicle models – the Vellfire, Alphard, Harrier, and Hilux – following high demand in neighbouring countries.

“Investigations also found that the suspects used fake documents, including fake immigration stamps to take the cars there (Thailand),” he added.

During the raid, police also seized various stolen items among them television, laptop, speakers and four stolen vehicles all worth RM500,000 and fake Malaysian Immigration entry and exit stamps.

Police also seized Honda Civic, Toyota Mark, Proton Saga, and BMW cars believed to be from Singapore at the gang leader’s house.

Investigations are continuing to find the rest of the gang members and their network in Thailand. - FMT