Angler foils cow thieves' plans

BATU KAWAN: The fast action of an angler in alerting the enforcers of the Road Transport Department (RTD), who were mounting an operation in Valdor, foiled the plans of four men to steal a cow yesterday.
In an incident around 5pm, the angler who was fishing under a bridge in the area, witnessed the thieves fleeing with a cow with a Proton Wira.
Seberang Perai Selatan police chief Supt Shafee Abdul Samad said the angler gave chase before alerting the RTD enforcers who were carrying out a roadblock operation on the opposite side.
"The enforcers gave a six-kilometre chase from Valdor until the Batu Kawan industrial zone before hitting the suspects' Proton Wira, following their refusal to stop the vehicle.
"One of the suspects was caught while the other three managed to escape. Initial investigation revealed that the vehicle used a false registration number and was believed to be a vehicle recently reported lost in Baling, Kedah," he told Bernama, here today.
Shafee said the stolen cow was found shoved in the Proton Wira, while various items such as a parang, a samurai sword and syringe that were believed to be used for stealing were also seized.
He said the modus operandi of the group was to sedate the cow or animal via injection, making it easy for them to steal the animal, before escaping in their getaway car and selling it to a syndicate.
"Initial investigation also revealed that the group had also been involved in house break-ins and armed robberies since last year. Efforts to track the three suspects are also underway.
"The detained 26-year-old suspect, who was unemployed, tested positive for drugs and had 13 previous criminal records, and was also wanted by the police," said Shafee.
He added that the suspect from Kuala Ketil, Kedah, had been placed under a five-day remand to assist investigations. — Bernama