SHAH ALAM: The five armed robbers who were shot dead earlier today were dubbed the "Ninja Van Gang", for always targetting the courier service's premise and safe box.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the group might have had an insider who had leaked information on the courier company's safe boxes.
He said he believed the five were part of a larger syndicate who had done their due diligence before robbing.
"Among the targets are Ninja Van premises, houses, factories and offices to steal safe boxes containing money. The hotspots are Klang, Puchong, Bukit Jalil and Cheras.
"Companies are targeted because, on occasion, they store their sales money in a safe box and deposit it at night.
"There is a possibility that they have an inside man," he said at a press conference, here, today.
Earlier today, it was reported that the police shot dead five suspected criminals believed to be involved in more than 50 armed robbery cases around the Klang Valley in the past two years, in a shootout.
The suspects were spotted behaving suspiciously by a police team conducting crime prevention patrols on Persiaran Harmoni, Putra Heights travelling in a Perodua Axia car.
Hussein said that all of the suspects, who are from Klang and range in age from 25 to 30 years old, had prior records and are currently being tracked by police.
He said the police believe that all suspects had plans to commit armed robbery.
One of the suspects had seven police records, followed by two with nine each, one with 13, and another with 16.
He said investigations were still ongoing on the suspect's occupation but believed all of them were unemployed.
Hussein said the group was very aggressive adding that they had seized two semi-auto pistols, parang, hammers, wrecking bars, gloves and masks among others.
"They are very aggressive and will not hesitate to hurt the victims," he said.