KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing copper cables here.
Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said police were initially alerted following a complaint on Feb 28 that cables for a pump at a water treatment plant at Taman Pelangi had been stolen.
"Based on our investigations, the theft occurred the day before the complaint was received.
"Our personnel conducted a raid on March 3 at Jalan Indah 1, Jinjang Utara, and arrested a 40-year-old man.
"Our checks show that the suspect has 14 drug and criminal records," he told reporters on Thursday (March 7).
He said police also seized a car, two mobile phones, a sack containing cables and several tools.
"We believe the suspect was assisted by an accomplice who is still at large.
"They target construction sites and quiet neighbourhoods," he said, adding that the stolen cables would be sold to scrap metal dealers to fund the suspects' drug habit.
He said the suspects have been connected to nine similar cases around Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case ACP Ahmad Sukarno said police have arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with a snatch theft case at Flat Seri Perak Bandar Sentul Kuala Lumpur.
"The incident occurred at around 2pm on March 4 involving a 39-year-old woman who was waiting for the lift.
"Two days later, we arrested the suspect and seized a motorcycle and a jacket believe to have been used during the incident," he said, adding that an accomplice was believed to be still at large.
He said the suspects targetted pedestrians and motorcyclists at neighbourhoods.
"Our checks revealed the suspect has five prior records for drug related offences.
"These suspects have been linked to six similar cases around Sentul," he said.
