MELAKA: Police have crippled a syndicate known as ‘Susu Borneo’ with the arrest of its four members, including a woman, on suspicion of stealing infant formula and powdered coffee worth RM12,600 from mini markets in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang.
Melaka Tengah Police chief ACP Christopher Patit said the suspects, comprising a 50-year-old woman and three men aged between 23 and 33, were nabbed at a rented condominium in Kuala Lumpur around 12.05 am on Aug 10.
"The arrests were made following two police reports lodged on Aug 2 regarding thefts at two mini markets in Taman Paya Emas and Bandar Baru Sungai Udang.
"He said based on intelligence gathered, the Criminal Investigation Department (D4) team from the Melaka Tengah Police Headquarters arrested two local males, as well as a Filipino man and woman," he said in a press conference today.
Christopher said a further probe led the police to locate the stolen formula milk at the condominium as well as in a car.
He said that the seized items included 72 boxes and 15 packets of infant formula, 12 tins of health milk, and 22 packets of coffee drinks, as well as a car, four mobile phones, clothing, hats, and tools believed to have been used in the thefts.
"This syndicate's modus operandi was to disguise themselves as customers, with the female suspect concealing the infant formula inside her clothes and trousers, while two male suspects served as lookouts on the left and right aisles of the shelves, and another waited outside the premises.
"Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate from Sabah has been active since 2011, and in the week before their arrest, they were believed to have committed 12 thefts at premises across the three states," he said.
Christopher added that further investigations showed three of the suspects had prior criminal records involving drug offences, theft, and causing injury.
He said all suspects have been remanded from Aug 10 to Aug 15 for further investigation, with the case being investigated under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft.
