SHAH ALAM, Sept 30 — The Latin American burglary gang that hit more than 15 homes in upscale areas in the Klang Valley could also be responsible for several automated teller machine (ATM) thefts last year.
Police believe a large cable belt seized from the suspects was used to cart away ATMs.
Six men and a woman were detained by police last Friday in two raids in Subang Avenue and USJ19, following two weeks of surveillance.
Shah Alam police chief ACP Azisman Alias said the seven, claiming to be from Panama and Guatemala, could be members of the infamous Latin American ATM gang.
“During the raid on one of the houses, we found a large cable belt normally used by gangs to cart away ATMs. So we believe some of the suspects could be involved in theft of money from ATMs.”
However, police are finding it difficult to make progress in investigations because the suspects are not cooperating.
“They claim they do not understand English. We know they are lying. How can you come all the way to a foreign country and not know a language like English?”
Azisman said police were looking for a translator.
On Friday, police first raided a house in Subang Avenue at 2am and arrested four men.
The four led them to another house in USJ19, where two men and a woman were nabbed.
At both houses, police found stolen goods worth RM200,000, among them smartphones, tablets, virtual reality glasses, designer bags, flat screen televisions, laptops, watches, foreign currencies and a collection of limited edition commemorative coins.
“We also recovered a rented Honda City and a Toyota Estima, which we believe the suspects used during the burglary. House break-in tools were found in both cars.”
Azisman said police were working with the Immigration Department to determine when and how the suspects entered the country.
“We seized four passports from the house, three showed they overstayed while one passport didn’t even have an Immigration Department stamp.”
He said police will check on the validity of the passports. The suspects, aged between 25 and 43, will be detained for 14 days to assist investigations.
