Some of you might be aware of thieves stealing catalytic converters for the valuable metals inside the exhaust system component, but think that it only occurs overseas. Well, it has been happening here too, and police have just arrested two men involved in various catalytic converters thefts in the Klang Valley.
According to a statement by Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, it all started with a report made by a Toyota Estima owner on June 12. The MPV was parked at the MRT Serdang carpark in the morning and the owner returned to his MPV without the catalytic converter at night.
On June 18, the cops made their first arrest at Tropicana Gardens Mall in PJ, and the first suspect (B1), a 34-year old Malaysian, led them to the arrest of the second suspect (B2), a 43-year old Malaysian in KL. In the arrests, cops seized a total of 46 catalytic converters worth an estimated RM35,000, as well as the equipment used to perform the thefts such as saws and jacks.
B1 works as an assistant in a car spare parts shop in Subang, while B2 is a collection agent for exhaust parts in KL. The modus operandi of the duo is to target cars parked at unguarded LRT/MRT carparks, and they only steal catalytic converters from Toyota cars. B1 steals the items and passes them to B2, who then sells the loot to overseas buyers interested in the platinum, palladium and rhodium in the catalytic converter.
Hussein says that B1 has been stealing catalytic converters since early June as there’s demand for the items from abroad. The cops estimate that each catalytic converter is worth anything from RM500 to RM2,500. With these arrests, the police say that they have solved 15 catalytic converter theft cases in the Klang Valley.
The two suspects will be charged under Section 379A(1) of the penal code, and if found guilty, can be sentenced to jail of not less than a year and not more than seven years, and a fine.
While this particular thief (B1) started cutting up cars this month, catalytic converters thefts have been happening for some time now in Malaysia, and we wrote about it last year – read more here.
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must be so stingy, never belanja minum kopi.
Eh, Malaysia is corruption free now!
Stupid bodoh thieves.Might as well curi Merc Benz or bmw…kena caught sure masuk penjara.of course better still not to steal.just be a food rider.curi Milo..6 months…this curian ,maybe few years like merpati.
The new-HRV would be easy to steal
The catalytic right below driver seat
Standing beside already can see
No need bend down to jack also
Thanks for the head up bro.
Sir,might as well steal whole car..sell for 5 grand to a shady workshop,then having to curi multiple units of these items,n each taking 15 mins while your accomplice watch.
Both crimes also will send them behind bars.
time to weld grill besi under the car.
hope the thieves get stacked charges, don’t let them out and free easily.
Only 1-7yrs jail……puiiiiiiii
buat wayang
Arrested and jailed then? Make them pay for the damages they caused.