The Star, Saturday February 4, 2012

Three robbery gangs busted

KAJANG: Three gangs that were terrorising business outlets and committing armed robberies have been busted in a sting operation in several parts of the Klang Valley over the past week.

OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab said the gangs were Gang Apek, Gang Topui and Gang Water.

He said four members of Gang Apek, including a couple, were detained in Kuala Kubu Baru, Seri Kembangan and Damai Perdana.

He said the gang was responsible for at least four car-jacking cases involving luxury vehicles.

“The gang last struck on Jan 12, where a businessman was robbed of his RM300,000 Audi TTS car in Balakong, Cheras.

“We tracked the hideouts of the gang members before arresting a couple on Jan 27, and the others the following day.

“The stolen car had been disposed of in Thailand,” he said yesterday.

ACP Abdul Rashid said one of the suspects, aged 24, had three previous convictions for selling pirated VCDs and rioting.

He said the gang had been active for the past one year in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Jalan Klang Lama and Balakong.

“All the suspects, aged between 24 and 31, have been remanded,” he said.

ACP Abdul Rashid said Gang Topui (Fat Gang) was called thus as the members were plump.

He said the gang mainly robbed chain outlets and convenience stores in the wee hours over the past one year.

“The gang had committed 10 such robberies using stolen motorcycles.

“Three gang members were detained in a series of raids in Batu 11, Cheras, Sg Long and Taman Cheras Perdana while an accomplice was arrested for helping to dispose of stolen cigarettes,” he said, adding that police recovered 118 boxes of cigarettes and two knives.

ACP Abdul Rashid said two of them had previous convictions for robberies.

The Gang Water members worked with a utility company.

He said three of the members were arrested separately in Rawang, Sri Andalas and Puchong.

“One of them had been detained earlier over a botched RM553,000 security van robbery using a fake pistol in Bandar Baru Bangi on Jan 25.

“He led us to the arrest of his three accomplices,” he said, adding that all the four suspects, aged between 25 and 33, had been remanded.