Cops arrest five linked to convenience store robbery

AMPANG: The police have detained five suspects linked to the robbery of a convenience store in Taman Keramat Permai here.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Farouk Eshak said the robbery at the convenience store occurred at 4.58am on Jan 29.

"Two men had entered the premises. One of the men held the cashier at knifepoint and instructed the victim to hand over several top-up cards for the Touch n Go ewallet.

"The robbers also took all the cash in the cash register as well as various items including several boxes of cigarettes. We estimate losses of about RM1,500," he said when contacted on Sunday (Feb 12).

ACP Mohamad Farouk said that the investigation led the police to detain five men aged between 20 and 30 following raids in Pudu and Wangsa Maju on Saturday (Feb 11), he said.

"We also seized several items, including a car, mobile phones, clothing used during the robbery, two pairs of handcuffs and a baton sword," he added.

ACP Mohamad Farouk said all five men have prior criminal records including for drug-related offences.

"All of them tested positive for drugs. They have been remanded until Feb 18. The suspects targeted 24-hour convenience stores and they would share the loot to cover their daily expenses," ACP Mohamad Farouk said.

"We believe the same group was also responsible for two other similar robberies in Kuala Lumpur.

We are still investigating to uncover other robberies committed by the suspects," he said.