'Lone Ranger' behind 30 Shop Break-Ins Nabbed

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- A ‘lone ranger’ behind a series of shop break-ins around the capital has been arrested by police under operation code named ‘Op Cash Box’ last Thursday.

Wangsa Maju district police chief SAC Mohamad Lazim Ismail said the 44-year-old man is believed to be involved in at least 30 shop break-in cases, with estimated losses amounting to RM59,546.

He said the arrest was carried out by the D4 Division of the Wangsa Maju Criminal Investigation Department following intelligence gathered since July last year.

“The suspect, who has 26 prior criminal records, was only recently released from prison in March 2025 for a similar offence but resumed criminal activities in July the same year,” he said at a press conference at the Wangsa Maju District Police Headquarters here today.

Mohamad Lazim said his modus operandi was to target premises with glass doors and operate late at night or in the early hours of the morning to avoid detection by the public.

“He would attempt to shake the glass doors of premises and, if unsuccessful, use a stone to smash them before fleeing with the cash box from the shop,” he said.

According to him, the suspect, who is also homeless, frequently moved from place to place, including sleeping in mosques, to evade authorities.

“Following the arrest, police also seized two motorcycles reported stolen in Jinjang and Dang Wangi, as well as 11 other items used in criminal activities.

“One of the motorcycles was found hidden under the staircase of a building in Muar, Johor, believed to have been used by the suspect to commit crimes outside Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Mohamad Lazim said a breakdown of the cases showed the suspect was most active in Wangsa Maju with 11 cases, followed by Dang Wangi (seven), Cheras (six), Sentul (four) and Brickfields (two).

“The suspect has been remanded until April 2 to assist investigations under Section 457 of the Penal Code,” he said.

-- BERNAMA