Cops cripple luxury car theft syndicate

 

Bukit Aman said three women and 11 men, aged 22 to 43, were arrested in a recent raid. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The police have crippled a syndicate behind the theft of luxury cars with the arrest of 14 individuals in a recent raid.

Federal police secretary Noorsiah Saaduddin said the police also seized five luxury vehicles that were believed to have been stolen.

Noorsiah said the syndicate targeted car showrooms, workshops, valet parking zones, and car wash outlets in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang.

The suspects, aged between 22 and 43, included three women.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi is to pretend to be a buyer or owner of a vehicle and trick employees at the premises concerned into handing over the keys before fleeing with the car,” she said in a statement.

“This syndicate also obtained the services of ‘jockeys’ to send some stolen vehicles to Thailand.”

Noorsiah said the police had received 14 reports about the theft of luxury vehicles believed to be linked to the syndicate.

She advised the public, especially employees of car showrooms, workshops, valet parking services, and car wash outlets, to be wary of individuals claiming to be owners or representatives of the vehicle owners, and to verify such claims before handing over the car keys to them.

She said the police recommends that security measures be taken at such premises, adding that the procedure for handing over car keys and vehicles should also be tightened. - FMT