Kota bharu: Police have busted a housebreaking gang with the arrest of three men believed responsible for 13 such cases around the Kota Bharu district involving estimated losses of RM404,400.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat stated that the three suspects, aged between 28 and 36, were arrested in raids carried out from May 10 to 13. The suspects are locals, including one man of Myanmar descent. The group's modus operandi was to target empty houses during the day, conducting surveillance between 8 am and 9 am to identify vacant houses before breaking in to steal.

Mohd Yusoff highlighted that areas frequently targeted by the group included Perol, Peringat, and several other locations around the Kota Bharu district. Initial investigations revealed the group's involvement in a housebreaking and car theft incident at a house in Lorong Tepi Tahfiz Ar-Raudhah, Kampung Perol, on April 28, which resulted in losses of about RM30,000.

Police seized various items suspected to be linked to the housebreaking cases, including mobile phones, tablets, cameras, jewellery, watches, handbags, a Perodua Myvi, cash, and tools believed to have been used to break into houses. Checks revealed the suspects are hardened criminals with extensive criminal records, comprising 14 drug-related and 16 other criminal offences. Preliminary urine screening found all three tested positive for methamphetamine.

The suspects have been remanded for seven days from May 13 to 19 to assist investigations under Section 457 of the Penal Code. While investigations are ongoing, police do not rule out further arrests as they explore whether the group was part of a syndicate.