KUCHING: A lone thief was caught on CCTV in the early morning of May 25 at the 2nd Floor, Block 16, KCLD Gala City, Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching, stealing electrical cables.
At a press conference today, SUPP Public Bureau Chief Milton Foo with shop owners and representatives said that around 17 shop owners and tenants had sought his assistance regarding the theft.
He said the thief, who appeared to be in his 50s and unmasked broke through the grill on the ground floor. The electric cables near the main switch and along the staircase leading from ground floor up to the fourth floor of the building were found cut.
Foo said this was not the first incident. The same man had been caught on CCTV on April 10, and in the second incident, he brought tools to force open the grill padlocks.
He urged the police to take firm action and arrest the thief. He also called on authorities to inspect second-hand dealer shops and take action against those who buy stolen goods.
Foo added that each time it happened, the affected shop owners had to spend over RM1,000 to repair the cables. The delay in fixing the damage also caused revenue losses, as cable replacements take a day or two.
Apart from the affected block, shop owners from nearby blocks have also reported similar incidents.
By Connie Chieng