Police Arrest Serial Snatch Thief Active In Kuala Muda

SUNGAI PETANI: The activities of a man believed to have been actively committing snatch thefts around the Kuala Muda district since early this month came to an end when he was arrested by police in Tupah, Bedong recently.

Kuala Muda District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Hanyan Ramlan said the arrest of the 24-year-old suspect was made following surveillance and intelligence conducted in response to an increase in snatch theft cases in the district.

According to him, police received more than 10 reports involving snatch theft incidents throughout July before setting up a special task force to track down the suspect.

“As a result of the intelligence conducted, we managed to arrest the suspect, who then admitted to being involved in all the snatch theft cases,” he said at a press conference at the Kuala Muda District Police Headquarters here today.

According to him, police also conducted checks at several pawnshops after receiving reports from victims to assist in the investigation.

He said the suspect, who is from Yan, is believed to have targeted the elderly, particularly among the Indian and Chinese communities, because it was easy to spot the jewellery worn by the victims.

He added that the suspect tested negative for drugs and is now being remanded to assist in investigations under Section 394 of the Penal Code for committing robbery.

Utusan Malaysia