KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted a luxury car theft syndicate, arresting 14 people, including its mastermind, recently.
Police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Saaduddin said 11 men and three women, aged between 22 and 43, were arrested, while five stolen luxury vehicles were also seized.
The syndicate reportedly carried out their activities in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Pahang, predominantly targeting luxury branded cars such as Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen at car showrooms, workshops, parking valet services, and car wash outlets.
"They disguised themselves as a buyer or as the car owner to deceive workers to get the car keys and flee from the scene.
"A total of 14 reports were lodged related to the theft (of the cars)," she said in a statement today.
She said the syndicate also employed "jockeys" to drive the stolen cars across the border to Thailand.
The case is being investigated under Section 379A for theft of a motor vehicle and Section 411 for receiving stolen property, respectively, under the Penal Code.