KLUANG: A senior citizen and a 16-year-old school dropout were among seven suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in six copper cable thefts reported in the district.
The 74-year-old, who owned a second-hand goods store, and his purported accomplices, are also believed to be responsible for the Jul 13 break-in at a school in Machap.
Their spree before their arrests is believed to be worth more than RM25,000 in losses.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said the suspects aged between 16 and 74, were arrested in a series of raids conducted in several housing estates in the district.
Also seized were mobile phones, a projector, four sacks of copper cables, 13 laptops, and a car.
"Following the Jul 13 school break-in, a task force was set up to hunt the suspects between Jul 30 and Aug 2.
"With their arrests, all seven cases including the school-break-in, are solved," he told a press conference held at the district police headquarters, today.
Bahrin added the cases are being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft, punishable with an imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
The senior citizen will also face charges under Section 6 of the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946, for operating the store without a valid licence.
All suspects were remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.