Incidences of auto theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates focusing 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 autos 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 whole of three,264) and 778 lorries have been additionally taken from their homeowners. As of September this yr, the entire of autos stolen reached 10,849, together with 7,700 bikes, 2,535 vehicles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Felony Investigation Division (CID) director Comm Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain advised the publication in an interview that the stolen autos have been being bought abroad – together with neighbouring international locations – with syndicates being paid handsomely.
Stolen autos are in excessive demand as a result of they’re a 3rd the value of what they’re on the used market. Different elements embody the pressing want for spare elements. “Our investigations revealed that car theft syndicates are focusing on 4×4 autos and SUVs as a result of excessive demand, as such autos can fetch a excessive value within the black market.
“Native car theft syndicates will likely 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 autos 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 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 techniques and now consists of a number of digital gadgets to unlock vehicles 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 by on-line purposes.”
He added that the skill to defeat keyless entry techniques has been a significant factor accelerating car theft. “Syndicates have found methods to hack keyless entry techniques or to bypass safety techniques with out the usage of the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
Thieves additionally reap the benefits of proprietor negligence and the shortage of auto safety techniques, in addition to alarm techniques 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 autos earlier than promoting them.
“The syndicates would additionally dismantle the stolen autos and promote the spare elements. For the worldwide market, syndicates would smuggle the autos in a foreign country on demand,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily, including that stolen autos are smuggled throughout the border utilizing false registration numbers and paperwork much like the mannequin of the stolen car.
Of the 53,300 autos 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 companies 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 carried out campaigns to unfold car safety consciousness.
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