KOTA SAMARAHAN: Police have arrested an unemployed man for allegedly stealing eight cooking gas cylinders from an eatery at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) earlier this month.
Kota Samarahan police chief Supt Damataries Lautin said the 36-year-old suspect was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) around 11.30 am on Sunday (April 20).
The arrest took place at a house in Taman Uni Vista along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway, where a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) believed to have been used in the theft was also seized.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect admitted to breaking into the premises with an accomplice around 11 pm on April 3.
“The duo stole eight cooking gas cylinders and loaded them into the suspect’s Nissan Grand Livina. The suspect then hid the cylinders before selling them to a shop in Bandar Baru Kota Samarahan for RM600, and shared RM150 with his accomplice,” he said in a statement.
Damataries said efforts are underway to track down the accomplice, who has been identified and remains at large.
Background checks revealed that the suspect, who is also a drug user, has 12 prior records related to theft and drug offences.
He added that the suspect will be referred to the Narcotics Crimes Investigation Division (NCID) for further action after admitting to abusing methamphetamine the night before his arrest.
