KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM69.8mil worth of items have been seized in operations against electricity theft committed by cryptocurrency miners since 2020.

       Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said police also detained 628 suspects during joint operations between its Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).

       "We advise the public to be wary of illegal bitcoin mining.

       "Property owners should be vigilant when renting out their premises," he said in a statement after receiving a donation of nine four-wheel-drive vehicles courtesy of TNB on Tuesday (March 29).

       The vehicles were presented to the police by TNB chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din at the Federal police headquarters here.

       The IGP said the police were grateful to TNB for the donation.

       "The vehicles will be used by Bukit Aman CID to step up its efforts against electricity theft committed by bitcoin miners.

       "The donation is a culmination of the police collaboration with TNB in curbing electricity theft due to bitcoin mining since 2020," he said.

       Acryl Sani also urged those with information on suspected electricity theft to contact the police or TNB.