GEORGE TOWN: Three men believed to be responsible for a spate of car thefts and robberies have been killed in a shootout with police.
They were shot after opening fire on the police during an operation at 5.30am on Wednesday (Nov 13) along Jalan Changkat in Pulau Burung, Nibong Tebal.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said they had solved at least 33 cases of car thefts and robberies, involving losses of over RM4mil, following the incident.
He said the shootout occurred during a joint operation by the George Town and the South Seberang Perai district Criminal Investigation Department.
"(Our team) came across two vehicles on Jalan Changkat.
"They seemed suspicious so our men approached the vehicles and identified themselves as police.
"The suspects then shot at our team, who returned fire in self-defence, killing all three," he told a press conference at state police contingent headquarters here.
Comm Hamzah said the suspects, all locals aged between 30 and 42, had multiple weapons on them including two guns and ammunition and two machetes, as well as assorted equipment.
"These men are believed to have stolen cars and sent them to neighbouring countries.
"We believe they operated mostly in Penang," he said, adding that the suspects targeted mainly four-wheel drives.
He shared that two of the three men had criminal records.
The 42-year-old suspect, believed to be the mastermind, had eight drug and 35 criminal offences on his record.
