A brazen attempt by a group of individuals to steal cables openly in a residential area backfired when a man was arrested by police in an incident at Kampung Tasek Tambahan, Ampang.
However, the incident sparked public discussion after CCTV footage appeared to show a police patrol vehicle travelling behind a vehicle believed to be involved in the alleged cable theft. The footage led some netizens to question whether the patrol car had passed through the area without taking action at the time.
In a statement, Ampang Jaya District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Khairul Anuar Khalid said police received an emergency call from a member of the public at around 3:59am on September 19, 2026.
He said the caller reported suspicious activity believed to be related to cable theft near the Al-Ubudiah Mosque in Kampung Tasek Tambahan. Following the report, the Ampang Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD) District Control Centre (DCC) immediately directed a mobile patrol vehicle team to the location to investigate.
Man arrested after allegedly stealing utility cables in Ampang
Following the report, the Ampang Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD) District Control Centre (DCC) immediately directed a Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) team to the location.
According to Kosmo!, officers from the Ampang Police Station arrived at the scene at around 4:18am and found a four-wheel-drive vehicle being used to pull cables out of a manhole. The vehicle was driven by a local man, who was subsequently arrested at the scene.
“The case is currently being investigated under Section 379, Section 431A, and Section 124K of the Penal Code, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Police have detected a viral video on TikTok involving the case and are looking into all related aspects.”
‘The raiding team then made an arrest against the man and seized the vehicle and related items for further investigation,” he said in the statement.
Police deny patrol car was escorting the suspects
Following the CCTV footage going viral on social media platforms including Facebook and Threads, the police have denied allegations that their patrol vehicle was escorting the suspected cable thieves.
According to Sinar Harian, Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK) director Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said that the MPV had been dispatched after receiving information from the Ampang Jaya IPD Operations Room.
“The patrol vehicle was acting on information received from the Ampang Jaya IPD control room, and the team’s vehicle also had its beacon lights switched on in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) while carrying out its duties,” he said when contacted by Sinar Harian on Monday.
Noor Hisam added that the MPV members were responding to a public complaint, while a suspect had since been arrested for further action.
Police have also advised the public against making wild speculations or sharing unverified information that could interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Members of the public with information related to the incident are urged to come forward and assist police with their investigations.
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