PETALING JAYA: If your old car has been stolen, you might still be able to get it back.
Police have crippled a car theft syndicate here that specialised in cannibalising old vehicles for parts.
The group has been linked to thefts all over Selangor, including in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, South Klang, North Klang and Kajang.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din said a team of police personnel from the Petaling Jaya crime intelligence (D4) and serious crimes (D9) units raided a scrap metal shop at Section 20, Bandar Serendah, Hulu Selangor at around 3.30pm on Oct 16.
READ MORE: Insurers see drop in car thefts in Malaysia
"We arrested 12 suspects during the raid, including two Bangladeshi nationals and an Indian national aged between 24 and 50.
"Checks at the yard revealed 21 vehicles which had been reported stolen," he told reporters at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters on Saturday (Oct 19).
The vehicles included 12 Proton Iswara, eight Proton Saga and a Mazda van.
"The vehicles were reported stolen in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, North Klang, South Klang, Kajang, Cheras and Brickfields," said ACP Zani.
"Further investigations revealed six of the suspects had been previously arrested for various crimes and drug-related cases.
"Interrogation of the suspects revealed their involvement in 30 car thefts in the Klang Valley since August this year," he said adding that the syndicate would cannibalise the stolen vehicles for parts before crushing the remaining chassis for scrap metal.
The suspects have been remanded until Aug 20 to help with investigations.
