Latin American couple turn jubah-wearing 'Arabs' to break into homes

Latin American burglars are resorting to wearing the 'jubah' (Arab robes) to hoodwink the public into thinking they are Middle Easterners when targeting potential homes to break into.

This new tactic was uncovered by the Selangor police when they arrested a Latin American couple about 9pm last Tuesday, at the car park of a condominium in Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur.

Upon questioning the suspects, aged 37 and 39, and examining a Toyota Camry car, a police team found various house break-in tools, including crow-bar, knife and a pair of gloves.

Selangor CID chief, Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the suspects led police to the seizure of a Myvi car where two sets of 'jubah' were found.

"Initial investigations revealed the suspects had worn the 'jubah' when scouting for potential houses to break into.

"The suspects also took the police to two condominiums where loot taken from several burglaries was stored. We believe we have solved eight burglaries in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam," he told reporters Friday.

Mohd Adnan said at the Datuk Keramat condominium - where the suspects were arrested - the police recovered 15 luxury watches, eight gold chains, 12 gold rings and 31 units of foreign currency.

"At another condominium, also in Datuk Keramat, the police found a luxury watch, two sculptures of a horse and eagle, respectively and various foreign currencies," he said, adding the loot was worth a total of about RM200,000.

In a related development, the state CID chief said a 47-year-old local man was picked up yesterday for allegedly suppling vehicles and other facilities for the use of the two Latin Americans.