Incidences of car theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates concentrating on pick-up vans, 4x4s and SUVs particularly, based on The Star. The nation is seeing a year-on-year enhance within the variety of automobiles 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 automobiles (inclusive of pick-ups, SUVs and MPVs, that is really barely down from 2022’s whole of three,264) and 778 lorries had been additionally taken from their house owners. As of September this yr, the entire of automobiles stolen reached 10,849, together with 7,700 bikes, 2,535 automobiles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Felony Investigation Division (CID) director Comm Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain informed the publication in an interview that the stolen automobiles had been being bought abroad – together with neighbouring nations – with syndicates being paid handsomely.
Stolen automobiles are in excessive demand as a result of they’re a 3rd the value of what they’re on the used market. Different components embody the pressing want for spare components. “Our investigations revealed that car theft syndicates are concentrating on 4×4 automobiles and SUVs as a result of excessive demand, as such automobiles can fetch a excessive worth within the black market.
“Native car theft syndicates can be paid between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per luxurious car by worldwide syndicates, relying on the sort and situation of the car,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
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 automobiles parked on the road, in open or public parking areas or in entrance of unfenced homes, though there have been a number of instances 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 strategy of theft usually modifications over time to adapt to the rising sophistication of car safety methods and now contains a number of digital gadgets to unlock automobiles with keyless entry, in addition to high-powered cell jammers to disable GPS monitoring. “The sale of such devices and gear on-line is a significant contributing issue in direction of the frequency of theft in Malaysia,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily. “These gadgets are simply accessible and bought via on-line purposes.”
He added that the potential 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 using the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
Thieves additionally reap the benefits of proprietor negligence and the shortage 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 extra locks, or worse, leaving the car unlocked,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
As for what occurs after the automobile is stolen, that relies on the place it’s headed. “The modus operandi for the home market usually entails tampering with engine and chassis numbers of the automobiles earlier than promoting them.
“The syndicates would additionally dismantle the stolen automobiles and promote the spare components. For the worldwide market, syndicates would smuggle the automobiles in another country on demand,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily, including that stolen automobiles are smuggled throughout the border utilizing false registration numbers and paperwork just like the mannequin of the stolen car.
Of the 53,300 automobiles 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 prison information, together with automobile and bike thefts in addition to drug offences,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
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 watch unlawful passages or routes can be important. We additionally elevated the frequency of patrols in hotspot areas and have stepped up the arrest and prosecution of car thieves,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned, including that authorities have additionally carried out campaigns to unfold car safety consciousness.
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