Police have dismantled a major cable theft syndicate, arresting five suspects linked to at least 27 criminal cases across seven states and Kuala Lumpur.

ALOR SETAR: Police have crippled the ‘Geng Lobo’ syndicate believed responsible for stealing Telekom Malaysia cables across multiple states since mid-last year.

Kota Setar police chief ACP Syed Basri Syed Ali said five suspects, including the leader known as ‘Lobo’, were arrested during a raid on a house in Taman Tasek Gelugor, Penang.

He explained that the group targeted manholes containing telecommunication cables in secluded areas, using four-wheel-drive vehicles to pull the cables out before selling them to a scrap metal premises in Sungai Petani.

Their modus operandi involved using metal detectors to locate underground cables before cutting and stealing them with specialised equipment.

Investigations revealed all suspects are unemployed drug addicts, with the 62-year-old man believed to have acted as the buyer for the stolen cables.

Syed Basri said the syndicate is linked to at least 27 criminal cases across Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.

Of these, 25 cases involved cable theft, with one case each for theft of vehicle components and obstructing a public servant.

The case is being investigated under Sections 431A and 411 of the Penal Code, with ongoing efforts to determine the group’s involvement in other crimes.

In a separate operation, police also arrested six suspected members of ‘Geng Man Che Lah’ aged between 25 and 35 for allegedly stealing cables around Kota Setar.

All suspects were arrested during a raid at an unnumbered house in Taman Orkid, Simpang Empat in the early hours of yesterday.

This group is suspected of being involved in eight criminal cases, including seven cable thefts and one case of housebreaking and vehicle theft in the district.

 The Sun Malaysia