PADANG TERAP: A man committed 21 crime cases including break-ins and theft over the past year to fulfil his wife's wishes for a holiday and to service her weekly RM350 loan.
Padang Terap police chief Deputy Superintendent Mulkiaman Manzar said police had slammed the brakes on the 32-year-old man's crime spree when he was arrested at a house in Felda Lubuk Merbau at 12.30am on May 31.
He said the Padang Terap Criminal Investigation Division led by Inspector Yusof Adnan carried out the bust.
"Based on investigations, the former welder from Sik district is believed to be working alone. He is linked to 21 crime cases, including house and shop burglaries in Felda Lubuk Merbau.
"He is also being investigated for car break-ins — with most cases involving vehicles of guests who attended wedding receptions in Felda Lubuk Merbau.
"So far, the suspect has admitted to 21 criminal cases," he told a press conference at his office today.
Mulkiaman said a victim had lodged a police report after his home in Jalan Fajar, Lubuk Merbau was broken into last month.
He said in the incident, the suspect had pried open the window grille while two Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were not working after the house's main switchboard was shut down.
The victim had reported that a cooking gas cylinder, a tablet and RM500 were missing from the house.
"Following the suspect's arrest, police have recovered all the stolen items, including 43 cooking gas cylinders, a television, knives, a fan, a pot, four scarves and a mobile phone at the suspect's home.
"We have also seized equipment to pull off the break-ins — such as a metal cutter, a Proton Persona registered under the suspect's name, and a one-tonne lorry — for further investigation.
Mulkiaman said police had also picked up a man in his 40s, believed to have been buying a stolen cooking gas cylinder from the suspect.
The man has been released on police bail after having his statement recorded.
Police have obtained a two-week remand order against the suspect for further investigations.