SHAH ALAM: Two Colombian men responsible for the theft of over RM1.9mil worth of luxury watches and jewellery have been busted by police.
The two men were believed to have posed as delivery men and used a red car to move around.
They targeted empty houses to break in but when news spread about their illicit activities, the two suspects tried to leave the country but failed as police were waiting for them at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang and Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Jan 3.
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said they launched a series of raids in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur on Jan 3 and arrested the two Colombian men, a Malaysian woman who recruited them, as well as three other Malaysians, one of whom is a woman.
“The suspects are aged between 45 and 62.
Busted: Comm Mohd Shuhaily (third from left) and other officers showing the seized items at a press conference at the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star
“Checks also revealed that one of the Colombian men has a record for similar cases and had been detained under the Prevention of Crime Act,” he told reporters yesterday.
He said checks revealed the group was linked to at least 10 house break-ins in Selangor and nine in Johor.
“Following the arrests, we raided five other locations and seized 64 luxury watches, eight branded luggage bags, 79 items of jewellery, 29 crystals and precious stones, foreign currency as well as RM1,821 in cash,” said Comm Mohd Suhaily.
He added that the group got spooked when viral messages were circulated advising homeowners to beware of a red Perodua Bezza believed to be used by a house break-in syndicate.He said police tailed the two Colombians and arrested them both at the said airports.
“The two suspects were to rendezvous in Thailand to plan their next move.
“Their recruiter has been identified as a 55-year-old local woman. She is believed to be responsible for bringing them in and acting as a fence to sell the stolen items,” he said.
He added that the woman was believed to have disposed of the stolen items by selling them to two of her acquaintances, a local man and woman who were also arrested along with another local man who was believed to be driving the suspects around.
Comm Mohd Suhaily said police also seized three vehicles, adding that all the suspects have been remanded to help with further investigations.
