Incidences of car theft have been rising right here in Malaysia, with syndicates focusing on pick-up vans, 4x4s and SUVs particularly, in line 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 automobiles (inclusive of pick-ups, SUVs and MPVs, that is really barely down from 2022’s complete of three,264) and 778 lorries had 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 automobiles and 614 lorries.
Bukit Aman Prison Investigation Division (CID) director Comm Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain informed the publication in an interview that the stolen autos had been being offered 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 embrace the pressing want for spare elements. “Our investigations revealed that automobile theft syndicates are focusing on 4×4 autos and SUVs attributable to excessive demand, as such autos can fetch a excessive worth within the black market.
“Native automobile theft syndicates will probably be paid between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per luxurious automobile by worldwide syndicates, relying on the sort and situation of the automobile,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
He added that criminals had been turning in direction of automobile 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 instances of luxurious automobile theft in gated neighbourhoods. Thieves typically observe and comply with the motion of their focused automobile for between 24 and 72 hours earlier than stealing it.
The tactic of theft typically adjustments over time to adapt to the rising sophistication of car safety programs and now consists of a number of digital units to unlock automobiles with keyless entry, in addition to high-powered cell jammers to disable GPS monitoring. “The sale of such devices and tools on-line is a serious contributing issue in direction of the frequency of theft in Malaysia,” mentioned Mohd Shuhaily. “These units are simply accessible and bought by on-line purposes.”
He added that the skill to defeat keyless entry programs has been a significant factor accelerating automobile theft. “Syndicates have found methods to hack keyless entry programs or to bypass safety programs with out using the unique key,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
Thieves additionally benefit from proprietor negligence and the dearth of car safety programs, in addition to alarm programs which are simply accessible and susceptible to tampering. “Different negligent behaviours are parking the automobile in a secluded space or darkish place, not putting in further locks, or worse, leaving the automobile unlocked,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned.
As for what occurs after the automobile is stolen, that relies on 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 automobile.
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 automobile thefts. All those that have been arrested had felony 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 businesses in Thailand to thwart transnational organised crime alongside the border. “Conducting joint operations to observe unlawful passages or routes can also be very important. We additionally elevated the frequency of patrols in hotspot areas and have stepped up the arrest and prosecution of car thieves,” Mohd Shuhaily mentioned, including that authorities have additionally carried out campaigns to unfold automobile safety consciousness.
Seeking to promote your automobile? Promote it with Carro.
