SHAH ALAM: A foreign syndicate specialising in pickpocketing iPhones at shopping malls across the Klang Valley has been dismantled following the arrest of four suspects.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the suspects, including two women aged between 31 and 62, were detained at around noon on Jan 25.
"Three of the suspects are Vietnamese nationals, while the fourth is Jordanian.
"We also seized 13 mobile phones, including 12 iPhones. They were responsible for cases reported in Serdang, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Dang Wangi, Cheras, and Sentul," he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters on Friday (Jan 31).
Comm Hussein revealed that the syndicate was led by a Vietnamese woman in her 40s, while a Jordanian man acted as their transporter.
"The leader entered Malaysia in December but left for Vietnam a week later. She then returned on Jan 17 and resumed stealing iPhones.
"The syndicate operated in groups, specifically targeting iPhone users. One member would distract the victim while another stole the device before passing it to an accomplice," he said.
He added that the stolen iPhones were believed to have been sold in Vietnam for RM3,000 each.
