KUALA LUMPUR: Police shot dead four Vietnamese men who were responsible for cracking into nearly 50 safes since 2018 yesterday.
A team of City Criminal Investigation Department policemen came face to face with the suspects when they raided a 17th-floor residential unit at Jalan Imbi at around 11.30pm yesterday.
City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the suspects opened fire at police during the raid, prompting police to return fire in self-defence.
"A shoot-out occurred between police and the suspects during the raid.
"The suspects, all aged in their 40s, died at the scene," he told reporters at the scene early today morning.
He said initial investigations revealed the suspects had entered and exited Malaysia multiple times.
"We estimate that they made about RM4.3 million from their activities.
"The suspects are believed to have broken into vacant houses and offices to crack into the safes there," he said adding that the suspects have been linked to 44 similar cases.
Rusdi said investigations revealed that the suspects had been active since 2018.
"We believe the most recent case was at Sri Hartamas two days ago.
"They then went into hiding and stayed at the residential unit at Jalan Imbi," he said adding that the suspects were believed to be notorious and had been difficult to apprehend.
He said the suspects only moved at night and left no traces.
"CCTV footage recorded of the suspects also proved difficult to identify as the suspects were foreigners.
"We are now looking for remnant members of the ring," he said adding that the bodies have been brought to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur for a post-mortem examination.