ALOR SETAR: Kedah police have crippled “Geng Fitri”, believed to have been actively involved in stealing utility cables, vehicles, vehicle components and diesel in Kedah, Penang and Perlis since early June.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the success followed a cable theft report in Taman Jati, Kuala Nerang, on June 29, which led to the arrest of seven suspects in their 20s and 30s, including a woman, in several raids in Pendang and Sungai Petani.
“The group admitted to being involved in 12 criminal cases involving cable theft (4), car theft (1), vehicle component theft (3), diesel theft (2), container break-in (1) and car break-in (1) in Kedah, as well as one case each in Penang and Perlis involving cable theft,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He said prior to the arrest, police from the Padang Terap district police headquarters detected a pickup truck believed to have been used in a cable theft in Kuala Nerang and pursued the suspects to Bedong before they escaped in an oil palm plantation.
“On July 14, police tracked down the vehicle again in Kampung Titi Akar, Pendang. When officers attempted to stop it, the vehicle sped off before skidding, crashing into a barrier and plunging into a drain.”
Adzli said five suspects were arrested at the scene, while two others were detained in follow-up raids in Sungai Petani, Bernama reported.
He said six of the seven suspects had prior records involving property crimes and drug offences, while two were wanted by police for criminal and drug-related cases.
Adzli said the group used stolen vehicles while posing as cable repair contractors by wearing safety vests and carrying specialised equipment.
