Crypto miners target vacant shophouses to steal power

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Authorities in Perak discovered an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in vacant shophouses using unauthorized electricity connections, seizing 168 mining machines and arresting a caretaker. The investigation is ongoing under criminal mischief and electricity supply laws, highlighting concerns over property misuse and electricity theft.

Authorities in Perak have uncovered an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation set up in vacant shophouses without the property owners' knowledge, according to the state police chief. The discovery followed raids conducted on Monday at four locations, including three in Sungai Siput and one in Seri Iskandar.

Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said during a press briefing that Bitcoin mining machines had been installed inside the unoccupied buildings, with profits reportedly being transferred through online channels. A 39-year-old caretaker associated with one of the properties was taken into custody during the raids.

At the Seri Iskandar site, officers found no official electrical meter from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Malaysia’s primary electricity supplier. Instead, they uncovered a suspected illegal power connection that was supplying electricity to the mining equipment. Police seized a total of 168 Bitcoin mining machines along with networking gear and electrical cables during the operations.

The incidents are being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which deals with criminal mischief, and Section 37(1) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, relating to unauthorized electricity use.

Separately, Comm Mohd Alwi provided an update on a murder case involving a foreign woman whose body was found stuffed in a bag and disposed of in the river near Lembah Jetty in Kuala Kangsar. The victim, believed to be non-Malaysian due to the absence of a BCG vaccination scar and no matching fingerprint records in the national database, was reported discovered by members of the public on Aug. 14.

The police have yet to determine the motive behind the killing, but investigations indicate the victim was tied up, placed in a bag, and likely drowned before being dumped in the river. The case has been classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which covers murder.

In another matter, police will look into ongoing allegations of gambling activities at several premises in Taiping and Bukit Gantang. Comm Mohd Alwi noted that previous enforcement actions have been taken against these locations, and any continued illegal activity will prompt further measures.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.