THREE SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF FOREIGN THEFT SYNDICATE ARRESTED

SETIU (Terengganu, Malaysia), Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Police arrested three men,
from Peru and Argentina, in Kemaman near here for suspected involvement in theft
cases where their modus operandi was to tap on the backs of their victims.

Terengganu police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan said the method was used at automated
teller machines (ATMs) while unsuspecting victims were withdrawing money.

"This is an international syndicate which has been active for the past two
months in the state," he told reporters at the Setiu police headquarters
Wednesday.

Mohd Shukri said the syndicate was reported to have raked in some RM30,000
(US$9,697) in eight such cases.

He said the syndicate members, aged between 30 and 60, would tap on the victim's
back and engage in a sleight-of-hand operation to grab the money.

Mohd Shukri said most of these cases occurred in Setiu, Dungun, Kemaman and
recently in Besut, in Terengganu.

Police are investigating the men to find out whether they have been carrying out
the same activities in other states, he added.

In relation to that, he advised the public to be more careful when
withdrawing money from ATMs to avoid falling victim to such syndicates.
-- BERNAMA