By NICHOLAS CHENG and SIMON KHOO
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: A teenage girl was part of a gang of robbers which preyed on polyclinics when it wasn’t hitting restaurants, spas, furniture shops and sundry stores.
She would be inside the clinic, pretending to be in line to see the doctor. But she would actually be taking note of wealthy patients while making sure the place wasn’t too crowded.
When she was satisfied with conditions, she would signal the rest of the gang and the men would storm in, brandishing parang and demanding cash and valuables.
Police said the gang was responsible for at least 14 robberies in Kajang, Cheras and Seremban in the last three months.
The gang’s successful streak ended when one of them was shot dead by a Tan Sri during a botched robbery at a polyclinic in Taman Pertama, Cheras, at about 10pm last Friday.
The rest of the gang members had managed to flee after their accomplice collapsed but police tracked them down to their flat in Bandar Mahkota Cheras at about 1.30am yesterday.
Three male suspects, aged 22, 23 and 30, and a girl, 17, were arrested.
Police found two parang, a knife, masks, break-in tools, mobile phones, a laptop and a tablet computer inside the flat.
The raiding party also recovered more than RM5,000 in cash and valuables, as well as three cars – a Proton Iswara, Perodua MyVi and Honda City.
Selangor acting police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan said the four had no criminal record.
“We believe they were involved in the Cheras polyclinic case. Initial investigations suggest they belong to the same group linked to the robber who was shot dead,” he said.
He said the four would be remanded until Monday and were being investigated under Section 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for robbery.
Police believe another seven gang members are still at large.
Pahang Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Tan Sri Lam Kam Sang, 68, had shot dead the 21-year-old when the robber attacked him with a parang.
Lam, who heard about the arrests, congratulated the police yesterday.
“I will give my full cooperation if my assistance is needed to identify the suspects.”
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