In Malaysia, robber flees empty-handed after guard locks US$20,000 inside armoured van

An attempted robbery outside a bank in Malaysia ended without any cash stolen after a security guard’s swift action secured 82,000 ringgit (US$20,000) inside an armoured van.Selangor police chief Commissioner Shazeli Kahar said the incident occurred at about 5.30pm on Monday while security personnel were transferring cash into the van in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang.He said a man wearing a dark jacket and a motorcycle helmet approached one of the guards and threatened him with an object resembling a revolver.“The guard acted quickly by placing a bag containing 82,000 ringgit in the van and immediately shutting the door,” he told a press conference at Selangor police headquarters on Tuesday.“The suspect did not manage to obtain any cash. However, he grabbed a pump-action shotgun belonging to the guard before fleeing on a motorcycle.”Shazeli said police were actively tracking down the suspect through footage from the bank’s CCTV cameras, nearby premises and dashboard cameras from vehicles in the area.Roadblocks have also been set up following the incident to assist in locating the suspect. “These roadblocks will continue at strategic locations until the suspect is taken into custody,” he said, as reported by the New Straits Times.Police were investigating all possible angles, including whether any insider has tipped off the suspect about the transport schedule of the money, he said. “It is still too early to tell as the investigation is still in its preliminary phase.”The case is being investigated under Sections 392 and 397 of the Penal Code for robbery and robbery involving the use of a weapon.The incident went viral on Monday after video footage emerged showing a helmeted suspect packing a bag then removing what looks like a gun from his waistband and waving it at a security guard. The video appears to be taken from inside the HSBC Amanah bank.Further ReadingAnyone with information on the case is urged to contact the police or go to the nearest police station. “We also appeal to members of the public with information or recordings of the incident to come forward,” Shazeli said.This article was first published in The StarAdditional reporting by SCMP’s Asia desk