End of the road for ‘Merry’ band of thieves

 

It was a case of ‘give-and-take’ as the syndicate pretended to give aid to the elderly but stole items from their house at the same time.

PETALING JAYA: It’s the end of the road for a crime syndicate known as the Merry Gang, which posed as a welfare organisation to gain entry into peoples’ homes before robbing them.

In a statement today, Sentul district police chief Beh Eng Lai said the police made three arrests over the past four days – solving three theft cases which were reported in the Jinjang area this year.

Beh said the police received a report on Aug 9 about an 82-year-old senior citizen being robbed of RM8,000 at her home at the Intan Baiduri People’s Housing Project (PPR).

Initial investigations found that the syndicate, which targets senior citizens living alone, was posing as members of a welfare NGO which wanted to provide aid.

“While the aid is being handed over, one of the suspects would go to the victim’s bedroom to steal items,” said Beh.

“On Aug 14, the Sentul CID department arrested two local women aged 23 and 43 and confiscated 17 packets of various types and brands of food, four cellphones and the clothes that were used during the incident.”

He added that another member of the syndicate, a 23-year-old local, was also arrested earlier today.

“Three of them admitted to their involvement in this case,” said Beh.

He said the main suspect, aged 43, has 12 previous cases while another suspect has three previous criminal records, including breaking and entering and theft.

The three suspects have been remanded at the Sentul district police headquarters to assist in further investigations.

Urging the public to be wary of people posing as NGO representatives, Beh called on members of the public with information on crimes in the area to call the Sentul district police headquarters at 03-40482222. - FMT