KOTA KINABALU: Three men were held for carjacking a Toyota Hilux with three children in it near a market in Menggatal last month.
They were picked up at separate locations within 15 hours after the children’s mother lodged a police report on June 25.
Prior to the 10.30am incident, the 30-year-old woman had taken her boys, aged 3, 5 and 10, to the market.
Acting city police chief Superintendant M. Chandra said yesterday the mother had parked the vehicle 10m from the market and left the children in the vehicle with the engine running.
“She went to buy something and returned to find her vehicle missing. She lodged a report immediately.”
Chandra said the suspects dropped the children at a bus stop in front of a church 100m from the market.
A passer-by took the boys to the Menggatal police station. They were not harmed.
Police traced the stolen vehicle, its number plates altered, in Kampung Minintod near here at 11.30pm.
“The recovery of the vehicle led to the arrest of two suspects aged 26 and 28 the following day
about 1.30am. They were at the crime scene and tested positive for drugs.
“Five hours later, we nabbed another suspect, aged 33, who was also tested positive for drugs, at the Bandaran bus stop. We believe the third suspect is the main culprit as he has
been involved in several robberies and car thefts.”
Chandra said the main suspect was arrested on July 9, charged in court and released on bail on July 16.
“The suspect admitted to two carjackings but we believe they (suspects) were responsible for six,” he said.
Chandra said police would be looking into investigating the mother for negligence as a lesson to parents not to leave their children unattended.