It was very dark, so fuel thief used a lighter

GEORGE TOWN: While trying to steal petrol from a motorcycle, a youth used a lighter for a clearer view – and ended up setting nine motorcycles on fire.

The bikes went up in flames at the Mutiara Heights car park in Jalan Hajiah Rehmah, Jelutong.

Police detained six teenagers, aged 14 to 18, believed to be involved in the 4am incident on Monday.

“When we arrived at the scene, the residents had already overpowered one of the boys, aged 15, who was then handed over to us,” George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng told a press conference at the district police headquarters yesterday.

Police also recovered a lighter, a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans believed to have been used and worn by a suspect during the incident.

Three of the suspects are still schooling while the other three are dropouts and unemployed.