Four masked men armed with hammers and sharp weapons robbed a goldsmith shop inside a shopping centre here on Wednesday night, making off with jewellery estimated to be worth between RM700,000 and RM1 million.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Hanyan Ramlan said the incident occurred at about 7.20pm when two of the suspects entered the shop and smashed three display cases before fleeing with various pieces of jewellery.
He said the suspects’ two accomplices were waiting about 20 metres from the premises, while police received a call from a member of the public shortly after the robbery.
“The actual losses are still under investigation and the figure of between RM700,000 and RM1 million is an initial estimate from the goldsmith shop owner.
“We are still waiting for the complete list of missing jewellery from the premises to determine the actual amount of losses,” he said when met at the scene on Wednesday night.
Hanyan said two employees were inside the shop during the incident but neither was injured.
Members of the public also attempted to help after the robbery, with several pieces of jewellery believed to have been dropped or left behind by the suspects found and handed over to police.
However, Hanyan urged members of the public not to put themselves at risk when attempting to apprehend criminals, particularly when suspects are believed to be armed.
“We don’t know if they have more dangerous weapons. So, public safety must be prioritised.
“At the same time, we welcome information from witnesses, including physical features, body shape, speech or any suspicious information before the incident,” he said.
He said police were still investigating the registration numbers of the two motorcycles believed to have been used by the suspects.
The case is being investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and armed robbery. Those convicted under the provisions face up to 20 years in prison and whipping.
Hanyan added that the same premises had previously been robbed in 2024, when losses were estimated at about RM1 million.
