Cops arrest three men under Poca for catalytic converter thefts

SERDANG: Police have detained three men under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) in connection with thefts of the catalytic converters of vehicles.

Two of the suspects were believed to have stolen exhaust catalytic converters that contained platinum, palladium and rhodium.

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that reduces toxic gases and pollutants in the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine.

Serdang OCPD Asst Comm Razali Abu Samah said police were alerted about the case on Oct 4, after security guards at an apartment in Puchong lodged a report on two suspects breaking into a vehicle and stealing its battery and part of its exhaust system.

"We conducted further investigations and arrested two men at a hotel Kuala Lumpur the next day.

"When we checked the car they were renting, we also found tools believed to be used in their illicit activities," he told reporters on Monday (Nov 16).

He said further investigations revealed the suspects sold the items to a 54-year-old man in Petaling Jaya.

"We arrested the suspect at SS21, Petaling Jaya, and he led us to an area covered in bushes where he hid the catalytic converters.

"We believe this suspect acted as a middle-man and would later sell these items to another party," he said, adding that police seized 15 catalytic converters.

ACP Razali said further checks revealed that one of the suspects had 20 prior records for drugs and house break in cases and was wanted under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).

"The three suspects have been detained under Poca while we continue to investigate the case.

"We urge anyone who had fallen victim to such cases to lodge police reports immediately," he said, adding that it was possible that victims did not lodge reports because they did not know the true value of the components that were stolen from their vehicles.

He added that depending on the size and weight of the components, the suspects could fetch anywhere between RM400 and RM1,500 for each catalytic converter.

Those with information on the case can contact the police hotline at 03-2052 9999, or go to the nearest police station.