PETALING JAYA: A gang of motorcyclists have been on the prowl on the highways posing as policemen.
The group would stop other motorcyclists by the side of busy roads at night and rob them of their belongings and machines.
Selangor deputy police chief Datuk S. Sasikala Devi said police arrested 10 suspects following a series of raids here on Oct 20.
"We believe these suspects have been active since July this year.
"We received a report from two victims who claimed they were robbed along the North-South Expressway near the Sungai Buloh Overhead Bridge R&R area of their belongings and motorcycle.
"The two men aged 18 and 21 claimed they were tailed by four individuals on motorcycles who stopped them and claimed they were policemen," she told reporters at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters today.
She said the suspects immediately grabbed the motorcycle keys and personal belongings before they rode off.
"We conducted further investigations before arresting 10 suspects in Petaling Jaya on Oct 20 aged between 25 and 39.
"Our checks revealed seven of them have a total of 26 prior crime records while two of them tested positive for drugs," she said adding that the suspects have been linked to 10 similar cases in Selangor.
In an unrelated case, Sasikala said police have arrested three locals over a string of motorcycle thefts.
"A team from the Sungai Buloh police conducted a series of raids at Jeram which led to the arrest of the three suspects aged between 19 and 43.
She said police also seized 14 motorcycles including three that were cannibalised.
Checks revealed the three suspects had prior records for drug-related offences.
She said they also seized five sport rims, one key and a motorcycle cover-set.
"Based on our checks, 13 of the motorcycles seized had been reported stolen.
"Our investigations revealed the suspects would pry open the motorcycle ignition key switch in order to start it and ride off."
She said the entire process took between three and five minutes.
She advised motorcyclists to use secondary locking devices and to always park their machines in well-lit areas.