Teenage trio arrested for attempted break-in at mobile phone shop

Screwdrivers, knives, a pair of scissors are among some of the items found in the teenagers' bags.

PETALING JAYA: Three young teenagers were caught red-handed while trying to break into a mobile phone shop in Taman Cahaya, Ampang Jaya, early Friday. 

Spotted by the police, they scampered off but were chased down and cornered by a police patrol unit, who found home break-in tools inside their bags. 

The teens, all aged 14, also confessed to an attempted theft of a Honda City in Pandan Cahaya, just hours before they were arrested, said Ampang Jaya OCPD Assistant Commissioner Khairuldin Saad. 

A police patrol spotted the trio picking a lock in the alley behind a mobile phone shop at about 2.45am in Jalan 2/2, Taman Cahaya. 

“When the constables approached the boys, they ran up the stairs of the shoplot and our officers gave chase, while calling for back up.

“They cornered the teenagers on the third floor of the shoplot.

"One of them was carrying a sling bag that had screwdrivers, two knives, a pair of scissors and a SmartTag,” ACP Khairuldin said. 

At the Ampang Jaya station, the teens later confessed to trying to break into a car in a separate case. 

“They broke into the car but got scared and ran off when the alarm triggered,” ACP Khairuldin added. 

In April 2014, Selangor police reported that the state had seen a 10% jump in teenage crime, with youth as young as 12 being caught for mostly petty crimes. 

According to police, 165 teenagers from ages 12 to 17, had been arrested in Selangor between January and March - a 10% increase from the corresponding period in 2013.

Of those arrested, 86 were for violent crimes including blackmail, snatch thefts and being a part of gangs and drug distribution syndicates, 79 others were arrested for minor offences, mostly motorcycle thefts, which accounted for 40% of the crimes.