Kota Kinabalu: Sabah police have crippled a burglary gang known as “Geng Raqib” that has been active since mid-last year and committed at least 17 burglaries in the State, following the arrest of five individuals, including the gang leader.
Sabah Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Azmi Abd Rahim, said the arrests were made in two separate raids here and in Beaufort on Monday.
“With the arrests, several burglary cases in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Sandakan, Ranau, Sipitang and Beaufort have been resolved,” he said.
He attributed the success of thwarting the “Geng Raqib” to intelligence and investigation since last year by the Special Criminal Investigation Department (D9) of the Sabah Contingent Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
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“Acting on the information, we managed to arrest three men at a house at 7am in Kampung Kekeru Kota Klias, Beaufort, on Monday (Feb 19).
“A vehicle, laptop, cash, mobile phone and a set of keys were also seized,” said Azmi
According to him, investigation of the three suspects aged 33, 37 and 39 revealed that they were involved in 17 housebreaking cases in several districts.
These comprised 11 cases in Sandakan, Ranau (two cases) and one case each in Penampang, Ranau, Putatan, Inanam and Kudat.
“The modus operandi of this gang is to hang around in luxury housing areas. They will ring the bell of the house and say hello to identify whether the house is occupied or otherwise. If there is no answer, the suspect will break in and flee with valuables,” he said.
After committing the crime, Azmi said the suspects would retreat to a house in Beaufort.
Further investigation, he said, found that the gang leader has 21 criminal cases.
“Two of the suspects are locals while one does not have valid identification documents.
“Following further investigations, the operation team arrested two more individuals aged 26 and 23 in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
These two suspects acted as buyers of the items stolen by the three suspects arrested earlier.
“Further interrogation and investigation are still ongoing on all members of the gang and efforts to track other accomplices are underway,” Azmi said.
All suspects have been remanded for seven days until Feb 26 and the case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for committing housebreaking.
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