JOHOR BARU: Gang Atan, a hardcore crime ring that terrorised Johor residents for over a decade, met its demise last month when police launched a coordinated sting operation, arresting four members.
The group, believed to have been active since 2011, specialised in house break-ins and vehicle thefts, with their targets - unoccupied homes across the state.
The suspects, aged between 41 and 52, were arrested in simultaneous raids at three locations in the state capital in a special operation codenamed Op Pintu/ Lejang on Dec 11, last year.
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the operation followed extensive intelligence-gathering work and public tip-offs.
Gang Atan's modus operandi involved gaining access to the houses by prying open sliding doors before looting the valuables and vehicles.
Police seized designer handbags, luxury watches, electronics and burglary tools, including Allen keys, gloves, and masks. They also confiscated three vehicles, believed to be used as getaway vehicles.
Kumar said the suspects had a lengthy criminal history.
Collectively, the four men had 133 prior convictions for various crimes, including drug-related offences.
One suspect alone was linked to 64 previous charges. All four had also served multiple prison stints.
All four also tested positive for methamphetamine use.
"With the takedown of Gang Atan, police have solved 19 burglary and vehicle theft cases reported this year in Johor Baru, Seri Alam, Iskandar Puteri, and Kota Tinggi," Kumar said in a statement today.
The suspects will face multiple charges, including under Section 457 of the Penal Code for house-breaking or trespassing, which carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.
Additional charges include concealing stolen property and drug-related offences, some of which included a punishment of whipping.
Kumar said the suspects would be remanded until Jan 4 before they face charges at the Johor Baru, Muar and Pontian courts.