KUALA LUMPUR: A car theft syndicate was busted after city police seized five stolen vehicles worth about RM1mil.
A total of 11 men and two foreign women were also arrested following raids in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan between May 1 and Monday (May 10).
Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Yong Lei Choo said the vehicles seized were an Alphard, two Toyota Hilux, a Ford Ranger Raptor and a Toyota Fortuner.
"We believe the syndicate has been active since 2018 and is responsible for 62 thefts of vehicles worth a total of RM6.2mil.
"They also have a network of members in the Klang Valley and a neighbouring country," she told a press conference at Sentul police headquarters on Monday.
The syndicate would target a vehicle and copy its remote's frequency before breaking in, she added.
"The syndicate would then use a jammer to block the GPS signal when the car is being transported to Kelantan before it is smuggled into a neighbouring country," she added.
A syndicate member is paid up to RM2,500 for each stolen car, DCP Yong said.
"We believe among those arrested is the syndicate's mastermind.
"We are still working to hunt down the remaining syndicate members," she said.
DCP Yong said each stolen vehicle smuggled into a neighbouring country is sold for about RM35,000.
"However, the price would certainly increase if a vehicle is in high demand," she added.
