BAU: Two local men were detained hours after they allegedly attempted to steal oil palm fruits from a plantation in Kampung Sepadah yesterday (Jul 12).
The incident happened at around 1am when the 24-year-old complainant noticed two unidentified men through a CCTV camera linked to his phone, pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with harvested oil palm fruits towards the Pan Borneo Highway.
Bau police chief Supt Mohd Haide A. Rahman said the complainant immediately alerted his father, brother and a friend before the four rushed to the plantation.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the suspects realised they had been spotted and fled into the plantation, abandoning several items believed to have been used in the attempted theft.
“Among the items seized were a black sling bag, a sickle, a wheelbarrow, three bunches of oil palm fruit and a motorcycle believed to belong to the suspects.
“No losses were incurred as the suspects failed to remove the harvested fruit from the plantation,” he said.
Following investigations, officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested the suspects, aged 30 and 31, at their home in Kampung Stenggang.
Initial questioning found that the suspects admitted travelling to the plantation on the seized motorcycle with intention of stealing oil palm fruit.
“They also admitted harvesting three bunches of oil palm fruit and pushing them towards the parked motorcycle before being confronted by the complainant and his companions.
“The pair fled on foot through the plantation before returning home, where they were later arrested by police,” he said.
Mohd Haide said the case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft, read together with Section 511 of the Penal Code for attempted offences.
