1-9-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a daring turn of events, a shopkeeper in Kuching, Malaysia, found himself face to face with an angry thief who had returned to the crime scene armed with a parang (Machete). The incident unfolded after the shopkeeper, who had fallen victim to multiple burglaries, took to social media in an attempt to solve the issue. In a Facebook post, the shopkeeper shared CCTV stills of the burglars’ faces and offered a reward of RM8,888 (approximately S$2,600) for their capture.
The bold move by the shopkeeper attracted the attention of one of the thieves, who grew furious upon seeing the footage. Driven by anger and seeking revenge, the culprit returned to the shop armed with a parang. However, his suspicious behavior caught the eye of passersby, who promptly alerted the police. With the help of a security guard and brave members of the public, the thief was subdued, and the parang was found in his possession. The 26-year-old suspect was subsequently arrested, and investigations are currently underway.
The shop owner’s Facebook post revealed that his store, located along Jalan Stephen Yong, had been broken into on two separate occasions. The first incident occurred on Friday, August 25, while the second took place on Monday, August 28. Frustrated by the recurring burglaries, the shopkeeper turned to the internet for assistance in identifying the culprits. He shared CCTV images of two of the thieves, one of whom was balding and wearing an orange vest, while the other was dressed in a hoodie and cap. Additionally, the shopkeeper provided photos of the thieves’ car.
In an effort to incentivize the public to help catch the thieves, the shopkeeper announced the substantial reward of RM8,888 for information leading to the capture of each culprit. Little did he anticipate the angered response it would provoke from one of the thieves.
The bald thief, upon learning about the reward through the Facebook post, decided to take matters into his own hands and confront the shop owner. On Tuesday, August 29, at around 11 p.m., he returned to Jalan Stephen Yong armed with a parang. However, thanks to the vigilance of those in the area, his suspicious behavior raised suspicions, prompting them to contact the authorities. The combined efforts of a security guard and several members of the public resulted in the swift apprehension of the would-be assailant.
The police arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect, who put up significant resistance, resulting in injuries to his head and body. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment. During questioning, the thief confessed that his actions were driven by a desire for vengeance against the shop owner, fueled by the Facebook post he had seen.
The shop owner later updated his original post, revealing that the bald thief had been successfully apprehended. However, it was discovered that more individuals were involved in the burglaries, with four others still at large, including the thief wearing the hoodie. The shopkeeper reiterated his reward offer of RM8,888 for the capture of each remaining thief.
The police have invoked Section 6 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 to detain and investigate the suspect found with the parang. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work diligently to bring all the culprits to justice.
