Incidences of auto theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates focusing on pick-up vehicles, 4x4s and SUVs specifically, in accordance with The Star. The nation is seeing a year-on-year enhance within the variety of automobiles stolen, reaching a excessive of 14,592 final 12 months 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 homeowners. As of September this 12 months, the overall 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 worth of what they’re on the used market. Different elements embrace the pressing want for spare elements. “Our investigations revealed that automobile theft syndicates are focusing on 4×4 automobiles and SUVs as a consequence of excessive demand, as such automobiles can fetch a excessive value within the black market.
“Native automobile theft syndicates can be paid between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per luxurious automobile by worldwide syndicates, relying on the kind and situation of the automobile,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
He added that criminals had been turning in the direction of automobile 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 circumstances of luxurious automobile theft in gated neighbourhoods. Thieves usually observe and comply with the motion of their focused automobile for between 24 and 72 hours earlier than stealing it.
The strategy of theft usually modifications over time to adapt to the growing sophistication of auto safety programs and now consists of 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 tools on-line is a significant contributing issue in the direction of the frequency of theft in Malaysia,” stated Mohd Shuhaily. “These gadgets are simply accessible and bought by way of on-line functions.”
He added that the capability to defeat keyless entry programs has been a significant component accelerating automobile theft. “Syndicates have found methods to hack keyless entry programs or to bypass safety programs with out using the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
Thieves additionally make the most of proprietor negligence and the dearth of auto safety programs, in addition to alarm programs which might be simply accessible and weak to tampering. “Different negligent behaviours are parking the automobile in a secluded space or darkish place, not putting in further locks, or worse, leaving the automobile unlocked,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
As for what occurs after the automobile 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 automobiles earlier than promoting them.
“The syndicates would additionally dismantle the stolen automobiles and promote the spare elements. For the worldwide market, syndicates would smuggle the automobiles in a foreign country on demand,” stated Mohd Shuhaily, including that stolen automobiles are smuggled throughout the border utilizing false registration numbers and paperwork just like the mannequin of the stolen automobile.
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 automobile thefts. All those that have been arrested had legal data, together with automobile 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 companies 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 auto thieves,” Mohd Shuhaily stated, including that authorities have additionally performed campaigns to unfold automobile safety consciousness.
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