Four armed robbers shot dead in separate incidents

SEPANG: They were behind a spate of robberies. In the wee hours of yesterday, they were planning their next target – an upmarket housing estate at Jenderam Harmoni.

But that was the farthest they got. All three were gunned down.

A police team spotted them, clad in dark attire, in a nearby undergrowth and ordered them to surrender.

“Instead, one of the them tried to attack the police with a machete. That’s when we opened fire and shot them dead in self defence.

“All three died on the spot,” said Sepang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Aziz Ali.

ACP Abdul Aziz said the robbers were believed to be foreigners as they did not have vaccination scars on their arms.

He said three machetes and other house break-in tools were found at the scene.

“We believe this gang was behind two armed robberies in Salak Tinggi and four other cases in Dengkil,” he said.

ACP Abdul Aziz said police got their break while conducting a patrol in the area under Ops Rantau Sepang.

He said as the three men were crossing a path in the undergrowth leading into the affluent housing area, police put paid to their plan.

In Bukit Mertajam, police shot dead a wanted man after a high speed chase in Jalan Berjaya at about 1.30am yesterday.

Penang CID chief Senior Asst Comm Zainol Samah said the 31-year-old suspect was wanted in relation to a RM30,000 robbery of a gold trader in Kuantan last year.

“Police spotted the suspect behaving in a suspicious manner in Jalan Song Bak Keng.

“When we moved in to carry an inspection, he sped off,” he said in a statement.

After a short chase, the suspect was cornered. But he shot at the police who returned fire and killed him.

“Inside the car, a loaded pistol and several bullet shells were found,” he said.

Police believe the suspect was on his way to rob a gold mill in Butterworth.