5 foreigners held over break-ins in Klang Valley

SHAH ALAM - Two Colombians, a Mexican and two female Thai nationals were nabbed in Op Latin at Venice Hill in Taman Pelangi, Cheras by a Shah Alam special task police force unit.

The suspects, aged between 26 and 42, were believed to be involved in multiple house break-ins in the Klang Valley for the past two months.

During the night raid on Wednesday, about RM60,000 (S$23, 260) worth of stolen items were seized.

Among them were laptops, watches, designer handbags, jewellery, and several plasma televisions.

Also seized were fake car plate numbers and burglary tools such as metal cutters, crowbars and screw drivers.

Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Azisman Alias said the raid was conducted after four days of intelligence work by the special task force with the help of the state police contingent.

"The suspects used the same modus operandi as other Latin American thieves arrested earlier, by using luxury vehicles and targeting rich neighbourhoods.

"They would enter a gated area in a luxury car, to avoid security stops. Next, they would ring the bell to check if the owner is home before they pry open the sliding door and remove the closed-circuit television camera recorder.

"These burglars often avoid engaging with the house owner. They are quick and spend about 30 minutes to rob a house."

Azisman said with the arrest, police believed that at least three cases here and in other districts have been solved.

"We will call the victims to identify their stolen items, and also notify other district police chiefs to conduct further investigation into the suspects."

Azisman said the police were having difficulty getting information from the suspects as they pretended not to understand English.

He advised security guards and house owners to pay more attention to strangers entering their neighbourhood in luxury cars.

"People usually do not give a second glance when a luxury car cruises into a neighbourhood.

"Always ask for the visitors' identification regardless of the vehicles they drive," he said.

The suspects are remanded for five days until Monday.