MIRI: Two local men have been arrested after allegedly stealing two gas cylinders from a food stall at Pantai Tanjung Lobang, Lutong here in a theft captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV).
The suspects, aged 29 and 37, were arrested by police at Taman Tunku at about 4.20 pm last Thursday, several hours after the theft was reported.
Miri district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said police received a report at about 12.11 pm on 6 August after the stall operator discovered that two gas cylinders had been stolen.
The theft was believed to have occurred at about 8.04 am.
CCTV footage showed two men allegedly breaking the padlock securing a chain wrapped around the gas cylinders before removing them and fleeing in a car.
The loss was estimated at RM500.
Acting on information and intelligence gathered, a team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Miri District Police Headquarters traced and detained the two suspects later that afternoon.
Police subsequently recovered the two stolen gas cylinders after establishing that they had allegedly been sold by the suspects to a shop along Jalan Lusut Lambir for RM200.
Police also seized clothing believed to belong to the suspects and the car allegedly used during the theft.
The two men have been remanded for three days until 10 August and are being held at the Miri Central Police Station lock-up to assist investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
