Incidences of auto theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates concentrating on pick-up vans, 4x4s and SUVs specifically, in accordance with The Star. The nation is seeing a year-on-year improve 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 complete of three,264) and 778 lorries have been additionally taken from their homeowners. As of September this 12 months, the full of automobiles stolen reached 10,849, together with 7,700 bikes, 2,535 automobiles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Legal Investigation Division (CID) director Comm Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain instructed the publication in an interview that the stolen automobiles have 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 embrace the pressing want for spare elements. “Our investigations revealed that car theft syndicates are concentrating on 4×4 automobiles and SUVs resulting from 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 kind and situation of the car,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
He added that criminals have been turning in direction of car theft because of the excessive revenue and the way little time it takes to steal it, estimating that simply 5 minutes is all that it takes. Syndicates typically 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 typically observe and comply with the motion of their focused car for between 24 and 72 hours earlier than stealing it.
The tactic of theft typically adjustments over time to adapt to the growing sophistication of auto safety methods and now consists of a number of digital units 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 serious contributing issue in direction of the frequency of theft in Malaysia,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily. “These units are simply accessible and bought via on-line functions.”
He added that the capacity to defeat keyless entry methods has been a significant component 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 make the most of proprietor negligence and the dearth of auto safety methods, in addition to alarm methods which are simply accessible and weak 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 mentioned.
As for what occurs after the automobile is stolen, that depends upon the place it’s headed. “The modus operandi for the home market typically 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 another country on demand,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily, including that stolen automobiles are smuggled throughout the border utilizing false registration numbers and paperwork much 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 data, 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 also 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 mentioned, including that authorities have additionally performed campaigns to unfold car safety consciousness.
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