KOTA KINABALU, Oct. 10 -- Police are tracking down a "toyol" who was caught on camera stealing a worshipper's backpack from the surau of Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQE1) here last Monday.

In Malay folklore, a "toyol" is a mischievous child spirit said to steal valuables for its master, which is today used as slang to refer to a sneaky thief.

The incident is believed to have happened around 1pm on October 6, shortly after the victim had performed Zuhur prayers at the hospital's fourth-floor surau, Harian Metro reported yesterday.

The man later realised his backpack, which he had placed on a table near the back corner of the prayer room, had gone missing, apparently taken by an unknown person.

Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assist...