'Find My Phone' app leads to bogus cop who robbed hotel receptionist
NATION
Monday, 19 Aug 20198:22 AM MYT
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BUKIT MERTAJAM (Bernama): Police have detained a man barely 24 hours after he impersonated a police officer before robbing a hotel receptionist in Jalan Permatang Batu here early Sunday (Aug 18) morning.
Seberang Perai Tengah deputy police chief Supt Mustafa Bidin said in the 3am incident, the suspect approached the male victim, 22, as he was smoking in the car park outside the hotel, and introduced himself as a policeman.
"The man, who was riding a Yamaha 135LC motorcycle, asked the victim to hand over a small bag as he wanted to check its contents, which may be illegal, ” Mustafa said in a statement here Sunday (Aug 18).
He said the man also asked the victim for his MyKad, and when the victim when into the hotel to retrieve it, the suspect ran off with his bag.
He added that items in the victim’s bag included a Vivo V5 and iPhone 7 telephones, as well as a power bank, all worth around RM2, 000.
Mustafa said, the man, 51, was detained in a house in Jalan Bagan Lalang, Butterworth, at about 10.20am Sunday after police traced him through the ‘Find My Phone’ application.
He said following the man’s arrest, police also seized the Yamaha 135LC motorcycle which had a fake licence plate, and further investigations showed the suspect had a criminal record with five charges, including one drug-related charge.
"Investigations are still being conducted and police believe the man was involved in other cases using the same modus operandi where he masqueraded as a policeman before robbing his victims, ” he said.
Mustafa said the man has been remanded for further investigations and the case is being investigated under Section 379 for robbery and 170 of the Penal Code for impersonating a policeman. - Bernama
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