Kota Kinabalu: Two children have managed to escape just before the car they were in was stolen in Sandakan.
In the incident on Thursday (Jan 22) afternoon, a nine-year-old girl and her seven-year-old cousin were in the car with its engine on while the girl’s father made a purchase at a petrol station at Mile 32.
Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm George Rakman said a man suddenly got into the unlocked car.
“Before the suspect drove off, the two children managed to escape,” he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 23).
He said police set up a team and came across the stolen vehicle at a road block on Jalan Sapi Nangoh in Beluran the same day.
“An inspection found that the 51-year-old driver was the suspect in the car theft,” he said. ACP George said the suspect is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for motor vehicle theft.
Preliminary findings found that the suspect had a record of previous crimes, including for drug.
He advised the public not leaving their car with the engine on, especially if they have children inside.
