End of road for cripple mastermind behind burglary spree

KEPALA BATAS: The police have thwarted the mastermind behind a burglary operations team, with the arrest a man, who is a cripple, and his two accomplices between Sunday and this morning.
The 34-year-old, who the police said had masterminded a series of break-ins at houses and shops in North Seberang Prai, Central Seberang Prai and Northeast Seberang Prai was arrested early today.
Nicknamed "Paikar", North Seberang Prai police chief, ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the suspect who tested positive for drugs was picked up just after midnight at Air Itam in George Town.
He said initial police investigations revealed the man tested positive for drugs and had 17 criminal records for house and shop burglaries.
On Sunday, the man's two accomplices, aged 37 and 43, were picked up in predawn raids at Mak Mandin and Butterworth. They tested positive for drugs.
Noorzainy said initial investigation revealed the gang was linked to several break-ins since early this year, namely in North Seberang Prai, Central Seberang Prai and Northeast Seberang Prai.
It was also linked to a break-in at a saloon and an electrical equipment store in the Raja Uda Business Centre, Butterworth near here on Oct 26.
Noorzainy said following the arrests, the police also seized numerous items worth RM50,000, believed to be loot from the two burgled shops.
He added the police detained two men, in their 40s, who were believed to be buyers of the loot, in Prai and Butterworth. — Bernama