GEORGE TOWN: ‘You steady, I steady. Kami hanya mau wang sahaja.’
This was the simple phrase which a five-member Indonesian robbery gang used to disarm occupants of houses before stealing their valuables on the island in the last 10 months.
The phrase was also a warning issued so that the people would not fight back.
The gang’s luck ran out as police nabbed them while they were trying to escape from the country with their loot.
Three members of the gang were picked up at Hentian Duta bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur at 2am on Monday. They were headed to Larkin, Johor.
Penang Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Zainol Samah said the trio led the police to their hideout which was located in the middle of the jungle in Bukit Gambir, in Penang, where two other members of the gang were nabbed.
“They are aged between 29 and 56, with the 56-year-old being the mastermind of the gang.
“We believe that 13 cases they were involved in between Jan and Oct have been solved,” he said here today.
Police seized 20 phones, bags, watches, jewellery and currency, including RM540 and S$210.
Zainol said the gang would move out from their hideout in the jungle and strike at houses. They would be wearing masks and gloves, and equipped with machetes and knives.
They would break into houses between 3am and 5am, tie up the residents before taking away their loot, he said.
He said they took items that could be easily sold such as watches, phones and jewellery.
“We believe some of them entered the country legally while others entered illegally near Johor and Selangor.
“They will take their loot and sell it in Indonesia,” he added.
The five have been remanded until Nov 3 for further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and also Section 394 of the Penal Code for causing hurt in committing robbery.