Kuala lumpur: Police have crippled a syndicate known as 'Susu Borneo' with the arrest of its four members, including a woman, on suspicion of stealing infant formula and powdered coffee worth RM12,600 from mini markets in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Melaka Tengah Police chief ACP Christopher Patit stated that the suspects, comprising a 50-year-old woman and three men aged between 23 and 33, were nabbed at a rented condominium in Kuala Lumpur around 12.05 am on August 10. The arrests followed two police reports lodged on August 2 regarding thefts at two mini markets in Taman Paya Emas and Bandar Baru Sungai Udang.

Christopher explained that based on intelligence gathered, the Criminal Investigation Department (D4) team from the Melaka Tengah Police Headquarters apprehended two local males, as well as a Filipino man and woman. He further elaborated that a subsequent probe led the police to locate the stolen formula milk at the condominium and in a car.

Among the seized items were 72 boxes and 15 packets of infant formula, 12 tins of health milk, and 22 packets of coffee drinks, as well as a car, four mobile phones, clothing, hats, and tools believed to have been used in the thefts. The syndicate's modus operandi involved disguising themselves as customers, with the female suspect concealing the infant formula inside her clothes and trousers, while two male suspects acted as lookouts and another waited outside the premises.

Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate, originating from Sabah, has been active since 2011. In the week leading up to their arrest, they were believed to have committed 12 thefts at premises across the three states. Christopher added that further investigations showed three of the suspects had prior criminal records involving drug offences, theft, and causing injury.

All suspects have been remanded from August 10 to August 15 for further investigation, with the case being investigated under Section 380 of the Penal Code for theft.