Incidences of car theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates focusing on pick-up vehicles, 4x4s and SUVs particularly, based on The Star. The nation is seeing a year-on-year enhance within the variety of autos stolen, reaching a excessive of 14,592 final yr in comparison with 14,433 in 2022 and 13,426 in 2021.
Of these, bikes make up the lion’s share with 10,589 stolen, whereas 3,225 vehicles (inclusive of pick-ups, SUVs and MPVs, that is really barely down from 2022’s complete of three,264) and 778 lorries had been additionally taken from their homeowners. As of September this yr, the full of autos stolen reached 10,849, together with 7,700 bikes, 2,535 vehicles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Felony Investigation Division (CID) director Comm Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain instructed the publication in an interview that the stolen autos had been being bought abroad – together with neighbouring international locations – with syndicates being paid handsomely.
Stolen autos are in excessive demand as a result of they’re a 3rd the value of what they’re on the used market. Different elements embody the pressing want for spare elements. “Our investigations revealed that car theft syndicates are focusing on 4×4 autos and SUVs as a consequence of excessive demand, as such autos can fetch a excessive worth within the black market.
“Native car theft syndicates shall be paid between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per luxurious car by worldwide syndicates, relying on the kind and situation of the car,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
He added that criminals had been turning in direction of car theft as a result of excessive revenue and the way little time it takes to steal it, estimating that simply 5 minutes is all that it takes. Syndicates usually goal autos parked on the road, in open or public parking areas or in entrance of unfenced homes, though there have been a number of circumstances of luxurious car theft in gated neighbourhoods. Thieves usually observe and comply with the motion of their focused car for between 24 and 72 hours earlier than stealing it.
The tactic of theft usually adjustments over time to adapt to the rising sophistication of car safety methods and now consists of a number of digital gadgets to unlock vehicles with keyless entry, in addition to high-powered cell jammers to disable GPS monitoring. “The sale of such devices and tools on-line is a significant contributing issue in direction of the frequency of theft in Malaysia,” stated Mohd Shuhaily. “These gadgets are simply accessible and bought by on-line purposes.”
He added that the capability to defeat keyless entry methods has been a significant factor accelerating car theft. “Syndicates have found methods to hack keyless entry methods or to bypass safety methods with out the usage of the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
Thieves additionally make the most of proprietor negligence and the dearth of car safety methods, in addition to alarm methods which might be simply accessible and susceptible to tampering. “Different negligent behaviours are parking the car in a secluded space or darkish place, not putting in further locks, or worse, leaving the car unlocked,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
As for what occurs after the automotive is stolen, that is determined by the place it’s headed. “The modus operandi for the home market usually entails tampering with engine and chassis numbers of the autos earlier than promoting them.
“The syndicates would additionally dismantle the stolen autos and promote the spare elements. For the worldwide market, syndicates would smuggle the autos in another country on demand,” stated Mohd Shuhaily, including that stolen autos are smuggled throughout the border utilizing false registration numbers and paperwork just like the mannequin of the stolen car.
Of the 53,300 autos stolen since 2021, 13,704 have been recovered by the CID, particularly its Intelligence, Operations and Data Division (D4). “We additionally detained 17,199 people nationwide in reference to car thefts. All those that have been arrested had felony data, together with automotive and motorbike thefts in addition to drug offences,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
Among the many measures taken by the police was the shut collaboration with enforcement businesses in Thailand to thwart transnational organised crime alongside the border. “Conducting joint operations to observe unlawful passages or routes can also be very important. We additionally elevated the frequency of patrols in hotspot areas and have stepped up the arrest and prosecution of car thieves,” Mohd Shuhaily stated, including that authorities have additionally carried out campaigns to unfold car safety consciousness.
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