Police were forced to fire several shots at the tyres of a vehicle carrying two suspected housebreakers and car thieves after the suspects allegedly attempted to ram officers during an incident at Café Kesenai, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Arau Branch, on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred at about 10.30pm when the suspects refused to cooperate with police instructions to exit the vehicle. Instead, they accelerated forward and attempted to run down officers on duty.
Arau district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Mohsin Md Rodi said officers responded by firing controlled shots aimed specifically at the tyres to prevent the suspects from fleeing.
“The shots hit the front right and left tyres, but the suspects still managed to escape and drove about four kilometres to the Taman Bersatu area along Jalan Batas Liku,” he told a press conference at the Arau district police headquarters on Thursday.
He said police later managed to arrest one male suspect during the operation, while another fled into nearby bushes before being apprehended in the Santan area of Kangar.
Following the arrests, a woman was also detained at a house along Jalan Santan at about 12.45am, believed to be linked to the case.
Ahmad Mohsin said a search of the suspects’ vehicle led to the discovery of a black pistol holster, six spent bullet casings and bullet fragments. Police also seized a Perodua Kelisa, mobile phones, car keys, a television set and a wood-cutting machine.
The case is being investigated under Sections 307 and 186 of the Penal Code for attempted murder and obstructing public servants, Section 457 for housebreaking, and Section 379A for vehicle theft.
