JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested three men believed to be responsible for stealing a car from an apartment parking lot in Bayu Puteri on Nov 11.
Authorities have also seized a device used to bypass the vehicle's ignition system.
The arrests were made during a special operation targeting vehicle theft, codenamed Op Lejang.
Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the 56-year-old victim reported the theft after discovering his car was missing.
Through thorough investigation, police tracked the suspects to a hotel on Jalan Bayu Puteri, where they recovered the stolen Chevrolet.
One of the suspects, aged between 20 and 39, had a criminal history with 21 prior offences, and all three tested positive for methamphetamine.
A check by the New Straits Times revealed that immobiliser bypass devices are being sold openly on online shopping platforms.
These devices, used to bypass ignition systems, are available for motorcycles as low as RM22 and for cars between RM40 and RM120.