Cops nab car battery thief targeting cars parked by the roadside

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a car battery thief who has been targeting cars parked by the roadside in Cheras here.

On Oct 26, a 72-year-old victim lodged a report after his car could not start and discovered that the battery in his parked car was missing.

The car had been parked overnight along Jalan Pandan Bistari 5 in Cheras Baru.

“Losses were estimated at about RM180. On the same day at 8.30pm, a 45-year-old man was arrested in Taman Bukit Permai and several items were seized including a car battery, multiple spanners and a car that was believed to had been used during the theft,” said Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Farouk Eshak in a statement Friday (Oct 28).

Checks show that the suspect had a criminal record with three prior offences.

ACP Mohamad Farouk said the suspect's modus operandi involved targeting old cars parked along the road to steal batteries and sell them for a profit.

“He has been remanded for four days until Oct 30,” he added.