SEREMBAN: Police have detained 16 individuals including two women and seized RM1.5mil worth of equipment such as cables which the suspects had allegedly stolen from transmission towers belonging to telcos.
Seremban police chief Asst Comm Mohamad Hatta Che Din said police had received a report on Feb 20 that a 300m long DC (direct current) cable had been cut and stolen from a tower in Taman Kelab Tuanku and a team was set up to track down the suspects.
"The following day, we detained 14 men and two women in an operation and seized items which were believed to have been stolen from these towers.
"Of the 14 men, one was a Bangladeshi," he said in a statement.
The suspects were aged between 25 and 50 years old.
ACP Mohamad Hatta said further checks revealed that four of the suspects had previous criminal records.
He said apart from the DC cables, the suspects also stole radio remote units and lithium batteries.
"We believe these stolen items are then sold to other telcos for a handsome profit.
"Items that are not sold are later disposed of to scrap dealers," he said, adding that the group was believed to have been active since last year.
ACP Mohamad Hatta also urged telcos or members of the public who have information on such thefts to come forward and assist the police in its investigations.
He said they can contact investigating officer Insp Saidi Busman at 011- 3155 8034.
