Six held over robberies at convenience stores
Published on: Saturday, October 10, 2015
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Kota Kinabalu: Six men, aged between 19 and 29, were nabbed by police for suspected involvement in several armed robberies at convenience stores here and in Penampang since Sept 8. Their arrests followed the detention of a 21-year-old local Brunei man who, together with two accomplices, staged a robbery at a convenience store at Lintas Jaya in Kepayan on Sept 30. A convenience store worker, in his 20s, had to receive four stiches to an injury sustained when one of the culprits held a machete to his neck during the 2.30am robbery.
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The episode unfolded when three suspects sped off in a Kancil after being spotted by a police team near the Kepayan Ridge area at about 3.50am that day.The team apprehended the man, who worked as a pump attendant, when the vehicle he was driving crashed at a housing area in Taman Deluxe. However, his two accomplices managed to flee. City Police Chief ACP M. Chandra on Friday said the man's arrest led police to the other five men. "We believe that we have solved six robbery cases involving convenience stores," he said, adding that several knifes, machete, electronic gadgets, cigarettes and three vehicles, including a motorcycle, all worth about RM50,000 were among items recovered from the men.
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The modus operandi used by the group is to storm into the premises with their faces covered with shirts and threaten the employees at the counter with a knife, machete and iron hammer before fleeing with their stash which usually comprised cigarettes, food, cash and handphones.Chandra said police are now on the lookout for two men believed to be the leaders of the group named by police as the "Geng Abel".
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The duo were identified by police as Amiruddin Abdullah @ Abel, a 24-year-old local Bugis, whose last address was at a squatter settlement near Servay Likas and Arpa Abd Wahid @ Rasta, a Kagayan in his 20s, of Kg Muhibbah, Likas. "Early investigations showed they fled to the city after being on the police wanted list for robbery at a convenience store in Tawau," he said.He urged those with information on their whereabouts to contact ASP Yusoff Osman at 0128191313. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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