Police Scour For Smugglers In Car Syndicate
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei police said a syndicate is involved in stealing of cars and smuggled them to a neighbouring country.

The syndicate is ran by both locals and foreigners, revealed SAC Peng Eng Lee, Police CID Director.

"Most of the stolen cars are old Toyota saloon cars and most of the recovered vehicles were used for joy-ride purposes. Stealing normally occurs in residential places or around buildings at night.

"In 2003, not a single case of stolen car transported to the neighbouring country was recorded.

There were not many last year, less than four. We are now controlling the movement of cars across the border and hopefully it would become less by next year," he said in a media conference.

He also revealed that the country saw an increase in theft cases. But, recorded a drop in car thefts last year.

Last year, 142 car thefts were recorded, out of which 75 have been recovered. The rate of car thefts dropped last year compared to two years ago.

Forty one people, mostly locals and habitual offenders,were caught and punished.

Touching on car-breaking and thefts, SAC Peng Eng Lee also said that 205 such cases were recorded last year. Only 13 were solved leading to 19 arrests, mostly locals.

"Close to 70 per cent of car-breaking and thefts occurred in broad daylight and 60 per cent happened in public places.

The thieves did not damage cars and police believed master keys may have been used to open them.

Some 1,052 cases of thefts were recorded last year with 236 arrests, out of which 14.5 per cent or 153 cases have been solved.

Thefts took up the largest share of the category of offences against property.

"No doubt, theft cases indicate the highest percentage as it is considered as a crime of opportunity.

The modus operandi is mugging, shop-lifting, pick-pocketing, stealing cables, gas cylinders, mobile phones, aluminium metals and so on," the police said.

In view of the rising theft cases involving metals, a task force has been set up recently, led by DCO Berakas, to come out with strategies.

The police have also informed scrap metal dealers to jot down the identification of junkyard sellers, he said.

Next to thefts was house-breaking as 498 cases were recorded last year and only 53 cases were solved, leading to 108 arrests.

"Most of the cases occurred between midnight and dawn and most of the victims only knew about the incident the next morning.

Houses lacking grill or safety equipment were targeted by thieves.

The modus operandi involves gaining entry into a house through door, window, air-con hole or through the ceiling.

Most of the house-breaking and theft cases were recorded in Brunei and Berakas Police Districts due to the high population density and rapid socio-economic development.

Most, of those caught were unemployed habitual offenders, who have been put behind bars before, the police said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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