Housebreaking and car theft gang busted

Sabah police arrested five men believed to be the members of a gang involved in eight housebreaking and car-theft cases in the city, involving losses amounting to RM240,000.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the suspects, aged between 25 and 52, were arrested in several locations from Nov 9 to 13.

"Police investigation found that they had broken into six houses, robbed a goldsmith shop in Telipok on Nov 2 and stole two four-wheel-drive vehicles," he told reporters here today.

He said the gang was believed to be active in breaking into houses and stealing cars over the past four months after its 26-year-old mastermind was released from prison last March.

"Police have raided the mastermind's house in Menggatal and found all their housebreaking and car-theft tools before arresting the rest of the gang members," he said.

Hamza said the man also had several criminal records related to drugs.

Following the arrest, Hamza said police had also retrieved several stolen items, including laptop computers, VCD players, seven gold necklaces and two fake Rolex wrist watches.