LABUAN — A 39-year-old local man was arrested after allegedly stealing a Toyota Land Cruiser in front of the Kampung Sungai Miri Community Hall here on Sunday morning.
Labuan District Police Chief Mohd Hamizi Halim said police received a report from a 63-year-old local man at about 10.29am after discovering that his vehicle had been stolen.
Initial investigations revealed that the complainant had parked the vehicle at the location at about 6.30am in an unlocked condition before going out to sea to catch fish.
Two members of the public nearby later saw a man entering the vehicle and driving it away at about 8am.
“They chased the suspect until the vehicle he was driving skidded and crashed into an electric pole,” he said in a statement.
The suspect fled but was subsequently detained by members of the public near the Labuan International Golf Club area before being handed over to police at around 8.15am.
The stolen vehicle, estimated to be worth RM25,000, was successfully recovered.
The case is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft, which carries a jail term of between one and seven years, and may also include a fine upon conviction.
Mohd Hamizi advised the public to ensure their vehicles are properly locked and not to leave keys inside vehicles to prevent theft.
