SHAH ALAM: A 32-year-old man who robbed a goldsmith in Kota Damansara on Saturday (March 22) is an auxiliary policeman working at a private company in Bukit Beruntung.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the suspect obtained a pistol from his workplace before heading to the goldsmith inside a hypermarket in Kota Damansara, stealing RM2mil worth of jewellery.
"Based on CCTV footage, we confirm the suspect acted alone. He monitored the premises before the robbery.
"After fleeing the scene in a car, the suspect returned the pistol to his workplace in Bukit Beruntung. He then went home to prepare for work when police raided his house and arrested him," said Comm Hussein at the Selangor police headquarters on Monday (March 24).
A debt of RM20,000 is believed to be one of the motives behind the robbery, Comm Hussein added.
"We are investigating whether it's a bank loan or an ah long debt. The suspect frequently shopped at the hypermarket where the goldsmith is located," he added, mentioning the suspect is remanded until Saturday (March 29).
Items seized at his home include 81 gold necklaces, an auxiliary police authority card, RM1,800 cash, and a set of keys, he said.
"Investigation shows the suspect is married, but his family is in Kelantan. He rents a room in Bukit Beruntung. We are considering the possibility he planned to flee to Kelantan," he said.
The police detained the suspect within 12 hours, thanks to the hard work of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) teams from Petaling Jaya and Selangor, Comm Hussein said.
"We also monitored CCTV footage from the hypermarket and nearby streets," he added.
It was reported that a man who robbed a jewellery shop at a Kota Damansara supermarket was apprehended within 12 hours of the incident.
Comm Hussein said the suspect used a pistol during the robbery at 4.56pm on Saturday (March 22).
"The suspect stole seven trays of jewellery on display before fleeing in a waiting car, with losses estimated at RM2mil.
"Through intelligence and information, police from the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters and the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters arrested the suspect around 10.15pm on the same day in Bukit Beruntung," he said.
The police urge anyone with information related to this case to come forward to the nearest police station or contact the Petaling Jaya District Police Operations Room at 03-7966 2222 or Investigating Officer ASP Farokh Faisal Ahmad at 017-776 2991.
