KUALA LUMPUR: A new modus operandi has been detected after robbers duped a victim into meeting them in a fake “cash on delivery” sale.
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the meet-up was supposedly for the sale of mobile phones.
“The victim, who works at a handphone shop here, had been in contact with one of the suspects via social media over the sale of two handphones.
“They met on May 30 in Kampung Baru at 11.26pm. The victim went with two friends.
“When the suspect asked the victim to hand over the phones, they were quickly taken but when asked for payment, an object that resembled a gun was aimed at the group,” he said during a press conference at the Dang Wangi police headquarters here yesterday.
The suspect fled the scene with an accomplice who was waiting on a motorcycle with the phones, estimated to cost between RM5,000 and RM6,000.
“A report was lodged on May 31 at 4.58am and a police team launched an operation.
“Within 24 hours, three suspects were arrested with two in a house in Hulu Langat, Selangor, and the third in Skudai, Johor.
“The suspect in Johor was hiding at a relative’s house,” said ACP Noor Dellhan.
One of them is believed to have been the owner of the handphone number that was used to communicate with the victim.
Two of the suspects have prior criminal cases. Also seized was a ball bearing gun.
“It is believed that the ‘gun’ was purchased online two days before the robbery,” he said.
ACP Noor Dellhan said this was the first time such a tactic was used in a robbery in the district.
All three suspects, aged between 24 and 26, have been remanded until Monday.
