KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The police will work closely with the Malaysian Association of Hoteliers in a move to curb thefts in hotels.

They have distributed photographs of members of a local syndicate to hotels. Police have been able to identify them but are not able to prosecute them because of lack of evidence.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Ku Chin Wah said hotels had been asked to be on a lookout for the syndicate members.

"Hotels can help lower the chances of their guests becoming victims by educating them about the dangers to look out for while staying at hotels and sightseeing," he said.

SAC Ku said apart from breaking into hotel rooms, the syndicate's modus operandi were pretending to ask for directions before robbing tourists, following tourists from the airport to the hotel to steal their luggage and posing as policemen. -The Star, ANN