Dr Sundramoorthy (right) having a word with security officers in plain clothes who were involved in nabbing the culprit.
TWELVE security officers at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) went undercover for four months following a string of thefts at the mosque in the campus ground.
They grouped themselves into three teams and have been visiting the mosque in plain clothes since late July to try to nab the culprit who first struck in April.
Their efforts paid off on Tuesday when they nabbed a woman said to be responsible for 30 thefts at the mosque.
USM Security Department director Assoc Prof Dr P. Sundramoorthy said they intensified their surveillance after receiving the first few reports of theft cases.
“Most of the time, about 30 to 40 female worshippers perform prayers at the mosque,” he said in an interview yesterday.
On Tuesday, security officers caught the mother of four in her car with a stolen wallet on her passenger seat.
Dr Sundramoorthy said the woman raised suspicion when she left half way through the maghrib prayers.
image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2017/11/24/19/06/metn_2b_2511_pcw_1.ashx?h=450&w=600&la=en
A policeman handcuffing the woman after she was caught red-handed for stealing at the mosque in USM. — Photos: K.T. Goh /The Star
“My men followed her to the Islamic Centre beside the mosque where she tried to withdraw money from the ATM.
“After one failed attempt, she quickly made her way to her car at the campus car park.
“That’s when my men caught her red handed with the stolen wallet,” he said.
Initial probe showed that the woman, an Uber driver in her 30s, was involved in 30 thefts at the mosque since April.
She would enter the mosque and pretend to take part in the prayers before stealing the worshippers’ belongings while they prayed. She also tested positive for drugs.
Dr Sundramoorthy, a criminologist from USM’s School of Social Science, said the woman would always head to the nearest ATM machine after stealing.
He said the woman would try her luck, believing that her victims would either use the first or the last six numbers of their MyKad as their personal identification numbers for their ATM cards.
“She managed to withdraw substantial cash belonging to five victims after obtaining both their MyKad and ATM cards,” he added.
Dr Sundramoorthy said most of the worshippers would congregate at the centre of the mosque for prayers after leaving their belongings and bags near its entrance.
“Do not leave your belongings unattended in religious places, assuming that these premises are safe. Place them next to you to avoid falling prey to habitual thieves,” he said.
Dr Sundramoorthy said they would remain vigilant despite the woman’s arrest.
The woman is currently under remand until today.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/11/25/mosque-thief-nabbed-in-the-act-undercover-security-guards-corner-woman-believed-to-be-responsible-fo/#Ehj2lZbOWFPmoTgf.99
