Goldsmith robbery gang busted
> Cops shoot dead three men, six arrested while three more still at large
SHAH ALAM: Police have busted a gang involved in a spate of goldsmith shop robberies in shopping malls last year, including the New Year's Eve heist in Cheras, following a shootout after an attempted robbery at a jewellery shop in Atria Mall, Petaling Jaya last Friday.
Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor (pix) said an operation codenamed "Ops Api Atria" was initiated to conclude the whole probe on the shootout.
"Police shot dead three men in total where two were killed at Atria Mall and another at Bukit Beruntung in Rawang.
“Four suspects were nabbed during the shootout while two more suspects were picked up in Rawang the following day of the incident. Fearing a police manhunt, two more suspects also surrendered at Jerantut district police headquarters," he told a media conference at Selangor police headquarters yesterday.
Mazlan said the suspects, aged between 22 and 30, were also involved in a spate of goldsmith shop robberies committed last year in Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. The three cases involved the same modus operandi where it was a swift job that was over within three minutes and the robbers had their accomplices waiting outside the premises.
Police seized bullets, a semiauto colt, two revolvers and an air gun during the operation. Jewellery worth RM400,000 were also retrieved from the suspects.
The suspects have been remanded until May 26 and the case is being investigated for armed robbery and murder and under Section 3 of the Firearms Act 1971.
Police are looking for R. Velu (IC 960710-10-5543), P. Navendran (IC 950322-10-6617) and A. Kalaiselvam Muthaliar (IC 930610-10-5549) to facilitate investigations.
Mazlan also warned the public from purchasing stolen jewellery and assured that police will go after those who have dealt with stolen items.