JOHOR BARU: A spark plug is vital to start a regular car. But it can also be a key tool for thieves to break into a car.
Spark plugs can easily smash a window, and thieves use them or screwdrivers to break car windows before fleeing with laptops, iPads or even cash inside vehicles.
The popular resort area of Desaru has seen at least 17 break-ins, including four cars owned by Singaporeans. The thieves usually target vehicles parked in isolated spots here, say police.
They have arrested a total of eight people belonging to two car break-in gangs that have been active since August of this year.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the two gangs were crippled in a series of raids in Masai, Majidee, Kulai and Muar on Sept 7 and Sept 8.
“Four locals and four Indonesians, including two women, all aged between 26 and 60 have been arrested,” he said.
All the suspects have been remanded.
Comm Ab Rahaman said police first arrested three locals and recovered an array of items from them, including a spanner, vehicle keys and a remote control.
In the second case, he said, five people, including a local and four Indonesians, were arrested while police recovered several items, including two vehicles, ATM cards, mobile phones and cash totalling RM10,105.
All the Indonesians nabbed had valid travel documents.
“We believe the first group is responsible for at least seven car break-ins involving vehicles parked in three different resorts in Desaru on Sept 6 alone,” he said, adding that police were also on the lookout for at least four others still at large.
Meanwhile, one of the resorts in Desaru, Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast, said it has strengthened safety measures following an isolated vehicle break-in on Sept 6.
