Incidences of car theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates focusing on pick-up vehicles, 4x4s and SUVs particularly, in response to The Star. The nation is seeing a year-on-year improve 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 vehicles (inclusive of pick-ups, SUVs and MPVs, that is truly barely down from 2022’s complete of three,264) and 778 lorries have been additionally taken from their house owners. As of September this yr, the whole of automobiles stolen reached 10,849, together with 7,700 bikes, 2,535 vehicles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Prison 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 international locations – 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 components. “Our investigations revealed that automobile theft syndicates are focusing on 4×4 automobiles and SUVs resulting from excessive demand, as such automobiles can fetch a excessive value within the black market.
“Native automobile theft syndicates shall be paid between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per luxurious automobile by worldwide syndicates, relying on the sort and situation of the automobile,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
He added that criminals have 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 instances of luxurious automobile theft in gated neighbourhoods. Thieves usually observe and observe 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 car safety programs and now consists of a number of digital gadgets to unlock vehicles with keyless entry, in addition to high-powered cellular 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 on-line functions.”
He added that the skill to defeat keyless entry programs has been a significant factor accelerating automobile theft. “Syndicates have found methods to hack keyless entry programs or to bypass safety programs with out the usage of the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily stated.
Thieves additionally benefit from proprietor negligence and the shortage of car 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 automotive is stolen, that relies on the place it’s headed. “The modus operandi for the home market usually includes 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 overseas 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 felony information, together with automotive and bike 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 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 automobile safety consciousness.
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