Woman among 11 arrested in Melaka catalytic converter thefts

MELAKA: Melaka police have detained a 29-year-old woman, together with 10 other male suspects, who allegedly acted as an informer for an automobile catalytic converter theft syndicate.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Afzanizar Ahmad said the suspects were detained in a series of raids from Jan 5 to 13.

"Five raids were launched here as well as in Johor and Selangor following reports on a high number of thefts involving catalytic converters," he said on Friday (Jan 15).

ACP Afzanizar said the woman would seek out vehicles parked in secluded areas and inform other gang members.

He said the stolen items were of high value and the gang members used the money to fuel their drug addictions.

"Only a few models of vehicles are targeted," he said.

ACP Afzanizar said police also confiscated automobile parts worth RM30,000, including items used for the thefts.

"We have also solved 11 theft cases of catalytic converters in the state with the arrest of these individuals," he added.

Catalytic converters contain rare metals, including palladium, rhodium and platinum, which makes them attractive to thieves in recent months due to the high price of "white gold".

Palladium is one of the metals used to make among others, dental fillings as well as ceramic capacitors, which regulate the flow of electricity in smartphones and laptops.