Robbers shot at Highland Towers

KUALA LUMPUR: Three suspected robbers, who have been using the abandoned site of the Highland Towers as a hideout, have been shot dead by police in a special operation.

They were shot dead when they tried to attack the police with a parang, sickle and air pistol after a 100m chase at about 5.15am yesterday.

Selangor CID chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said police received information at about 12.15am yesterday about the group planning to rob homes in Ampang.

Their target were residential areas surrounding the Highland Towers.

Following the tip-off, police discovered the group’s hideout on the first floor of the building and ambushed six men there.

The suspects are believed to be in their 30s.

“The men started running towards the hilly forest behind the Highland Towers. Some of them attempted to attack the police with weapons,” he said.

Police opened fire in self-defence and shot three suspects dead but the other three managed to escape into the forest.

DCP Adnan said that a team, comprising personnel from the General Operations Force and the canine unit, had been deployed to track down the trio before sundown.

He said police from the Ampang Jaya police headquarters arrested a man, believed to be from the group, last March.

“We believe the group was involved in 26 cases around Selangor which used the same modus operandi. They have been active for a few years – at least two years.

“We did not find any identity documents on them, therefore, we cannot say whether they were Malaysians or foreigners,” he said.

Police recovered two bags containing handphones, gloves, face masks, a crowbar, a screwdriver and green cables used to tie up victims.

The group is believed to have robbed houses in Kajang, Shah Alam, Sepang, Ampang Jaya, Gombak and North Klang.