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SEREMBAN: Police have arrested three South Americans believed to be involved in 10 robberies in gated communities here and in the Klang Valley, says Deputy Comm Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof
The Negri Sembilan police chief said the suspects were arrested after they allegedly broke into a house in Taman Lavender Heights near here on June 22.
The trio, aged between 33 and 41 years old, were detained in separate raids here and in Cheras.
"A 66-year-old man had lodged a report on June 22 claiming that his house in Taman Lavender Heights was broken into between 7.10pm and 9pm on June 22 when there was no one at home.
"We managed to apprehend the suspects on June 24 and have since obtained an order to remand them till June 30," he told reporters at the state police contingent here Monday (June 26).
DCP Ahmad Dzaffir said police seized cash including foreign currencies, jewellery, other valuables including branded bags and two cars worth some RM500,000 from the suspects.
Also seized were tools used to commit the robberies.
He said based on preliminary findings, the suspects who were from the same country, had entered the country in early June.
"We are now checking with Immigration and their mission here if their passports are authentic and if they had entered Malaysia previously.
"Their modus operandi was to target houses located in elite or upscale areas," he said.
Asked how the suspects could gain entry into the gated areas, DCP Ahmad Dzaffir said based on investigations, they would tail the cars of other residents and enter the area before the boom barrier closed.
To another question, he said police were also probing if they had sought the assistance of locals when committing the crimes.
Asked if any of their victims had been harmed, he said there were no reports on this so far.
The suspects are being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for house break-ins which provides a jail term of up to 14 years or a fine or both upon conviction.
