PETALING JAYA: Police took down four gangs allegedly involved in cable thefts targeting the East Coast Rail Link and Telekom Malaysia, following a series of operations held over the past week in Temerloh and Mentakab, Pahang.
Temerloh police chief Nasyim Bahron said there were two cases of theft at ECRL cable storehouses and five TM cable theft cases in Temerloh, Mentakab and Lanchang in the past two months alone.
A total of 17 Malaysian men aged 20 to 60 were eventually arrested following the thefts, which caused an estimated RM75,000 in losses, Bernama reported.
The first group, known as "Geng Ravi", was allegedly involved in several cases of cable and metal theft and construction sites and factories abandoned since July.
Police are still hunting for two other suspects linked to the gang.
Another gang named "Geng Kepala" is believed to have been involved in stealing Tenaga Nasional Bhd cables from storehouses, factories and roadsides in Mentakab since August.
Nasyim said they also arrested a suspected member of "Geng Dany" in Mentakab, a two-man ring believed to have also stolen TM cables in Kuala Lumpur.
"The suspect admitted to being involved in several TM cable theft cases in Mentakab this month, along with an accomplice who is still at large," he added.
Finally, police busted "Geng Mista" in an operation in the wee hours of this morning. The gang is believed to have stolen aerial and underground TM cables in Temerloh, Mentakab, Jerantut and Maran since July.
Nasyim added that the head of "Geng Mista" was previously a member of "Geng Kepala". Another suspect remains at large.
All 17 suspects are being investigated for gang robbery, theft and damage to network facilities.