Kota Kinabalu: Police are on the lookout for the remaining member of a four-man burglary gang dubbed “Geng Leleh” who would target luxury homes in several districts, resulting in RM336,000 losses, over three months.
City Police Chief ACP Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the man, identified as Musa, is on the run after three gang members, including their mastermind, were arrested on Monday (Nov 6).
He said the gang was masterminded by a 28-year-old local known as “Lele” who recruited another local, 40, and two Filipinos who were later confessed to 16 cases of burglary in the city, Penampang, Papar and Beaufort.
According to Zaidi, the gang has been linked to 12 cases in Kota Kinabalu alone, including eight in Luyang and two in Tanjung Aru.
“Based on reports, the group is believed to have been active since September.
“Their modus operandi is they would linger around high-end housing areas before going up to a targeted house and knocked on or rang the doorbell to check if anyone was home.
“When no one answered, they would proceed to break in,” he added.
Zaidi said the group would usually ride motorcycles while committing crimes around the city and rent cars for crimes outside the district.
“The stolen valuables would then be sold off or pawned at gold shops around the city. We have identified six premises to be regular buyers of the stolen goods,” he said, Friday.
Zaidi said the gang leader has six criminal records involving drugs, robbery and theft, and all three suspects tested positive for syabu.
Following the arrest of the three suspects, he said nine others, including pawnshop operators, shop operators, suspected buyers, licensed money changers and someone who kept the stolen items on their behalf were rounded up.
Eleven jewellery items, two laptops, two wristwatches, a gold RM100 note, two amulets, a necklace and a Perodua Bezza believed to be used by the suspect when committing the crime were seized.
“Also confiscated were pawn receipts and register books for further investigations.
The recovered items are estimated to be worth at least RM16,000,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for housebreaking.
