SARIKEI: Four Filipinos were arrested for allegedly robbing a pet store at Jalan Nanas here yesterday.
In the 1.30pm robbery, three of the foreigners entered the premises, with two of them pretending to be customers enquiring about items in order to distract the shopkeeper’s attention.
The third man then stealthily snatched a pouch bag from under the shop counter.
The three suspects promptly left the shop and fled in a Toyota Vios driven by a fourth accomplice.
Items contained in the stolen bag include RM11,000 in cash, 2 mobile phones, personal documents and bank cards.
Acting on a report lodged by the owner on the same day, police immediately launched an operation to hunt the foreigners.
Kanowit Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Inspector Mohd.Razif Mohd Yusof spotted the suspects in the Toyota Vios at an intersection in Betong near here while he was returning home from a meeting in Kuching at about 3pm.
Sarawak CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar said a high speed chase ensued, as Razif pursued the suspects, who were heading towards Sri Aman.
The chase ended two hours later when the suspects were ambushed by Razif and reinforcements provided by the Sri Aman district police.
"A search was conducted on the car and the pouch bag containing the stolen items was found inside," Dev said in a statement today.
He said checks revealed that all suspects, aged 36 to 44, are from Manila. One of them arrived in the state early this month, while the rest entered Sarawak in mid Oct.