ALOR GAJAH: A lone robber, dubbed the "Man in Black" by Melaka police, escaped with gold items worth RM250,000 after robbing a jewellery outlet in Kuala Sungai Baru here using a toy gun.
Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ashari Abu Samah said the robbery took place at around 2pm on Thursday (March 20) when foot traffic at the town's Mara Arcade was low due to the Ramadan month.
“The 49-year-old male shop owner was inside the outlet with his two children, aged 10 and seven, when the robber pointed the gun at them.
“Fearing for their safety, the owner grabbed both his children and ran into a room at the back of the outlet,” he said on Thursday.
Supt Ashari said the robber was dressed entirely in black, including a helmet and a matching visor.
He said the suspect smashed the glass display at the front of the shop and stole two trays containing 50 gold bangles of various sizes and weights before fleeing the scene.
Supt Ashari said the shop owner immediately made a distress call to the Kuala Sungai Baru police station, prompting a team of officers to be dispatched to the location.
He said that the robber discarded the toy gun before making his escape with the stolen jewellery, just before police arrived.
“We have launched a manhunt for the suspect and are investigating the case under Sections 392 and 397 of the Penal Code for robbery,” he added.
