Penang police bust luxury car theft syndicate

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police busted a luxury car theft syndicate and recovered 46 luxury cars worth millions of ringgit after arresting four men.

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Gaffar Rajab said the syndicate, which stole the luxury cars from all over the country, either tampers with the engine chassis number before selling the marquees to neighbouring countries or breaks down the vehicles for spare parts to be sold.

Elaborating, Abdul Gaffar in a press conference said, 43 luxury vehicles of various marquees were recovered at a workshop in Bukit Tengah on the mainland.

Vehicles recovered include a Porsche Cayenne, several BMWs, a few Mercedes Benz and different models of Audi and Volkswagen cars.

Abdul Gaffar said three suspects were detained in the operation held between July 28 and Aug 10.

He said information gleaned from the first raid allowed for a follow up operation at Kuantan, Pahang, where a man and three Toyota Vellfires were recovered.

"The syndicate members stole the vehicles from their owners by breaking the automatic gate of their targets' home before driving away.

“We are now on the hunt for other syndicate members,” he said, adding investigations were carried out for theft of motor vehicle under the Penal Code.

In a separate development, Abdul Gaffar said they have arrested seven suspects in connection with a RM200,000 heist of a money changer shop on Lebuh China on Aug 11.
He said the suspects were detained in various locations over two days beginning Aug 13 after investigations found the staff were allegedly involved.
“The suspects have been remanded for five days to assist investigations into gang and armed robberies,” he said after witnessing ACP Abdul Ghani Ahmad receiving his duties as State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief from his predecessor ACP Ramli Mohd Nor.
Abdul Ghani, 52, previously served as the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department assistant director and has served the Force since 1990.
Ramli, meanwhile, has been appointed to the post vacated by Abdul Ghani.