Bank robber shot dead

GEORGE TOWN: A security guard at a bank in Sungai Dua here foiled a robbery attempt when he shot dead the robber today morning.

Penang deputy police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said the fake mustache-wearing suspect entered the premises with two bottles of petrol. He said the suspect then doused the floor and counters with petrol during the 11.17am incident and threatened the staff and customers that he will burn down the building if he did not get what he wanted.

"The security guard took the chance to shoot him when he was shouting," he said at a press conference at the scene.

This is not the first time the bank has been targeted as robbers made off with some RM60,000 during an attempt on May 29.

During the 2.45pm incident then, two parang-wielding men also doused the premises with petrol and threaten to set the place on fire before making off with the loot.

The similar modus operandi led investigators to believe the suspect in today's incident to be from the same gang.

Thaiveegan said police were working on establishing whether the deceased, who is in his 30s, was alone as they were not ruling out the accomplices who may have been waiting outside.

He also praised the security guard for keeping cool under pressure and taking a quick action to stop a robbery.

"I would say the security guard has done an excellent job," he added.

Investigations are being carried out under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang-robbery and armed robbery respectively.

-thesundaily.my