JOHOR BARU: For the past six months, a 34-year-old Rohingya woman has been leading a group of young Rohingyas to carry out house break-ins at several districts in Johor and Melaka.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said that the group’s criminal activity came to an end after six of their members, including four females, aged 15 and 34 years, have since been arrested on Sept 25 in Kota Tinggi.
“The state police have successfully arrested members of an active house break-in syndicate that have committed crimes in Kota Tinggi, Kulai, Pontian, Batu Pahat and even Melaka.
“This syndicate targeted affluent residential areas that are not gated and guarded. They usually carry out the break-ins in early mornings at empty houses or when the house owner left for work,” he said in a press conference held at the state police headquarters here on Tuesday (Oct 22).
Comm Kumar added that the investigation showed the group would rent a car to move from one location to another to carry out the break-ins.
He also said the group uses screwdrivers and small chisels to break into their victims' houses where they target cash, jewellery, branded bags, wristwatches, and other valuables.
“They will only steal what is easier for them to sell off in making quick money,” he said adding that checks on the suspects found two of them, including the mastermind, possessed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards while four of them have no documents.
Comm Kumar also said that further checks on the mastermind found she has 54 prior offences on her criminal record, where most of the cases were for break-ins in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Penang.
“At the same time, the main suspect together with another syndicate member have been charged for a similar offence at Pontian court in February this year where their case is still in trial.
“Following the syndicate arrest, police have seized RM675,500 in stolen goods including cash and have solved 21 break-in cases around Johor,” he said adding that the syndicate has caused losses up to RM1.25mil.
He added that the investigation papers have been handed over to the state Public Prosecution Office and have received orders to charge all six of them soon.
“All of the suspects have been handed over to the Melaka police as they are also involved in break in cases over there. Once they are back here, we will charge them in court,” he said.
Comm Kumar said the police were searching for one more syndicate member, identified as Mohammad Shukur Mohamad Salim, who remained at large to assist with the investigation.
He urged those with information to contact the state police hotline at 07-2212999 or lodge a report at the nearest police station.
