Wednesday June 19, 2013
Police nab three robbery suspects in quick response action
By DERRICK VINESH
[email protected]
Rooftop drama: Officers detaining a suspect on the roof in a housing estate in Bukit Mertajam.
NIBONG TEBAL: Swift action by the police saw three out of four suspects nabbed some 16 hours after they allegedly committed two robberies in town here and in Sungai Bakap.
South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafien Mamat said two of the suspects, who were hiding in the hall area of a double-storey terrace house in Taman Impian Jaya, Bukit Mertajam, were caught at 4.10pm yesterday, while the third suspect, who was hiding on the roof, was caught 20 minutes later.
He said the fourth suspect, however, fled on motorcycle when police ambushed the place.
“The group is believed to have robbed a book shop in Nibong Tebal town at 10.50pm on Monday.
“They were later believed to have robbed a mobile phone shop in Sungai Bakap at 2.45pm today,” he said yesterday.
Supt Shafien said members from a Voluntary Patrolling Scheme (SRS) in Sungai Bakap noticed the suspects escaping in a Proton Waja, and chased the car for about 20km till they reached the housing area.
He said the suspects abandoned their car near a block of flats before hiding in the terrace house about 200m away.
“We also found several mobile phones in the house, believed to be stolen from the mobile phone shop.
“We also recovered several mobile phone accessories as well as a few masks believed to have been used during the robberies,” he said.
The case was being investigated under Section 395 of the Penal Code for robbery.
He said police would conduct further investigations to track down the fourth suspect.
In a separate case, Supt Shafien said a 45-year-old man was injured after three robbers slashed his left arm in the Caledonia estate at 6pm on Monday.
Supt Shafien said the robbers took the victim’s Toyota Hilux multi-purpose vehicle and a bag containing RM1,500.
He said passers-by rushed the victim to the Sungai Bakap Hospital.
