Cops net 21 suspects and 24 stolen vehicles in three-month operation
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled four motorcycle theft syndicates in Wangsa Maju, arresting 21 suspects and recovering 24 stolen vehicles in a sweeping operation spanning nearly three months.
Wangsa Maju OCPD Senior Asst Comm Mohamad Lazim Ismail said the crackdown, carried out under Ops Lejang Khas 1/26 from Jan 1 to March 20, was led by the district police headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department with support from all stations under its jurisdiction.
Those detained – 20 men and one woman, aged between 33 and 50 – are believed to be members of four active syndicates known as the Prakash, Ican, Kobis and Botak Kuang groups.
“They are believed to have been operating for one to two years,” SAC Mohamad Lazim said at a press conference yesterday.
Initial investigations found that all of the suspects were directly involved in vehicle theft, with most testing positive for drugs.
Police also recovered 22 motorcycles and two cars reported stolen in 2024 and 2025, with total losses estimated at RM248,000.
“Five vehicles have been returned to their owners, while the rest have been handed over to other district police headquarters.
“Some of the recovered vehicles bore fake registration numbers and were linked to cases in Gombak, Sungai Buloh and Bera, Pahang,” he said.
According to SAC Mohamad Lazim, the syndicates targeted popular motorcycle models, using methods such as breaking handle locks before towing the vehicles away or transporting them in vans.
The stolen vehicles were either sold as complete units or dismantled for spare parts, often advertised online at below-market prices.
As part of the operation, police also screened 4,109 individuals, inspected 3,157 vehicles and checked 10 workshop premises.
So far, five individuals have been charged under Sections 379A, 379 and 411 of the Penal Code.
SAC Mohamad Lazim said 322 motorcycle theft cases were recorded in Wangsa Maju last year, involving losses of RM2.6mil, with public housing and commercial areas identified as hotspots.
He noted that negligence among owners, along with demand for cheaper spare parts, continues to fuel such crimes.
“We found that many cases occur due to negligence, which criminals exploit,” he said, advising the public to use additional locks and park in safer, CCTV-monitored areas.
He also warned that those who purchase stolen items risk prosecution under Section 411 of the Penal Code, adding that police will intensify patrols and carry out further operations, including a second phase.
Earlier, SAC Mohamad Lazim presented certificates of appreciation to police personnel and 12 members of the media at a special assembly, which also marked his final event as Wangsa Maju OCPD ahead of his transfer to Bukit Aman next month.
