M'sia police arrest 8 people, aged 26-60, linked to 17 car break-ins, including 4 S'pore vehicles in Desaru

Malaysia police have arrested eight people suspected to have been involved in 17 car break-ins and thefts across the state of Johor.

Four of the cases involve Singapore vehicles at popular coastal resort destination Desaru, The Star reported.

Four Malaysian men, two Indonesian men, and two Indonesian women, aged 26 to 60 were arrested in two raids on Sep. 7 and 8.

The suspects targeted vehicles parked in open areas and along quiet roads.

They allegedly smashed car windows and stole valuables that they either kept or sold for money.

The Singapore cars that were broken into were parked at various resorts in the Desaru area on Sep. 6, the Johor police chief said.

Vehicle owners are advised not to leave valuables inside vehicles and to park in well-lit areas.

First raid

Three Malaysian men were arrested in the first raid in the Masai and Majidee areas of Johor Bahru.

A vehicle, three phones, and three iPads were seized.

A spanner, vehicle keys, and a remote control were also found.

Urine tests found that all three tested positive for methamphetamine, the police said, adding that the suspects had previous criminal and drug-related records.

Police were also on the lookout for at least four others still at large from the first gang, which is responsible for at least seven car break-ins involving vehicles parked in three different resorts in Desaru on Sep. 6 alone.

Second raid

The second raid saw the 60-year-old Malaysian man, two Indonesian men, and two Indonesian women arrested in the Kulai district and Muar.

Items seized included two vehicles, three ATM cards, eight mobile phones, RM10,105 (S$3,117) in cash, an Indonesian passport, a watch and a ring.

Those arrested in the second raid did not have criminal records.

The Indonesian nationals were found to have valid passports used to enter Malaysia.