SUNGAI BULOH: Nine men and a woman have been detained for alleged involvement in a lorry theft syndicate.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said the suspects, aged 28 to 62, were arrested in an operation codenamed Ops Lejang conducted in Negri Sembilan and Johor between April 5 and 10.
"We conducted the raids at Senawang toll plaza as well as two workshops in Tongkang Pecah and Jalan Parit Besar in Batu Pahat, Johor," he told a press conference at Sungai Buloh police headquarters on Friday (April 15).
Several items were seized including a lorry, 20 partially dismantled lorries, nine engine blocks and several lorry components, he said.
"We believe the syndicate has been active since last year and is responsible for at least seven lorry theft cases in Selangor, including four cases in Sungai Buloh," he added.
Comm Arjunaidi said one of the suspects, a workshop owner in Batu Pahat, is believed to be the syndicate mastermind.
"Initial investigations revealed that the owner, 48, was responsible for hiring people to steal and dismantle the lorries.
"He was held under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) and was released last year, when we believe he started the syndicate," he said.
He added that each member of the syndicate had a specific role.
"Some members were assigned to steal the lorries.
"The lorries were handed over to middlemen, who deliver the lorries to the workshop.
"The members were paid between RM3,000 and RM5,000 for each lorry.
"At the workshop, other members would be tasked with dismantling the lorries for parts to be sold to prospective customers in Johor," Comm Arjunaidi said.
"We believe we have solved at least seven theft cases in Selangor.
"We will investigate whether the syndicate is responsible for other cases," he said.
Comm Arjunaidi urged those with information on any criminal cases to contact the nearest police station.
"We value the cooperation of the public in combating crime," he added.