SUNGAI PETANI: Police have busted the Ah Boon Gang, notorious for a six-month crime spree of break-ins and robberies in Kuala Muda.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail said four suspects, including the gang's 33-year-old leader, were arrested in raids on Aug 27 and 29.
He said the first raid on Aug 27 was carried out after a member of the public recorded a video of a break-in and vehicle theft in Taman Setia Jaya.
"Using the video as evidence, police were able to track down two suspects, aged 29 and 33, and arrested them within five hours of launching the raid in the district.
"Following the arrests, we seized a Honda Accord with a fake registration number, six mobile phones, 51 break-in tools, 27 branded watches, two closed-circuit television cameras, three car keys, a laptop, five handbags, binoculars, 14 health products, RM1,811 in cash, four gold bracelets and six bottles of perfume," he said at the Kuala Muda district police headquarters today.
Police also seized two orange vests bearing the Tenaga Nasional Bhd logo, which the gang allegedly used to impersonate utility workers.
Further questioning led police to recover a Perodua Myvi, which had been stolen during the Taman Setia Jaya break-in.
Wan Azharuddin said: "The two suspects tested positive for methamphetamine."
He added that the gang leader has 21 criminal records and six drug-related offences, while the second suspect has eight criminal records and three drug-related charges.
Both suspects have been remanded for nine days from Aug 28.
"The arrests have helped solve seven break-in cases involving homes and offices, as well as a vehicle theft in the district.
"These cases are not linked to those committed by the gang in Seberang Perai, Penang, and Taiping, Perak."
Wan Azharuddin said the gang's modus operandi was to break into homes when the owners were away.
He said further investigations had led to the arrests of two more suspects, aged 44 and 45, on Aug 29 and Sept 1.
"This gang consists of five members, four of whom are now in custody, while one remains at large," he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code.