KUALA LUMPUR: Police have picked up a suspect believed to be involved in stealing hotel guest belongings from in--house fitness center lockers here.
The suspect,a 45--year--old unemployed man,would enter the place in sports attire complete with a cap and a towel around his neck to pass off as a hotel guest.
Four police report have been lodged by leading hotels facing similar cases since April. The Malaysian Association of Hotel (MAH) has attributed it to sharing of information among its members in the city.
The suspect's modus operandi is simple. He would park his white Perodua Myvi inside the hotel car park before heading for the fitness centre to ransack lockers there and leaving immediately.
One of the leading hotels had provided police with close--circuit television (CCTV) footage of the suspect entering and leaving the hotel on May 18.
City CID Chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah told The Malay Mail the suspect was detained on Wednesday evening near Time Square shopping complex.
"We believe the suspect detained is the one captured in the CCTV of the hotel. We are now gathering more information from hotel securities."
Ku said police were also in contact with hotel managements to inform them if such cases had been reported in their establishment.
Ku said checks on the suspect's car revealed it was rented.
"Our KL tourist police will continue to work closely with hotels in the city to get feedbacks on criminal cases or such new modus operandis they have come across as this will help police to be more aware of new tactics."
MAH deputy chairman,Security,KL chapter,Ab Majid Abdul Karim,thanked the cooperation given by fellow hotels for coming forward and sharing information.