BUKIT MERTAJAM - PENANG police arrested five robbers and seized two containers of tyres worth RM300,0000 (S$125,437), minutes after they robbed a warehouse here.

The success was credited to quick police respond shortly after the guards alerted them of the robbery at 12.30am on Saturday.

State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said his men, on crime prevention rounds, managed to spot and stop the trailers at Jalan Bukit Panchor in Nibong Tebal, some 30km from the warehouse.

'We apprehended the five suspects, aged between 26 and 49, and seized the two trailers without facing any resistance from them.'

He said investigations revealed two of the suspects were warehouse staff.

Earlier, the robbers, all armed with parang (machetes), had confronted and overpowered the two security guards at the warehouse.

They tied and blindfolded them. The guards were also threatened not to raise the alarm.

Mr Salleh said the robbers, who covered their faces with shirts, had also stole two prime movers, each valued at RM400,000, from the warehouse to remove the containers laden with tyres.

He said the robbers were on their way to dispose their goods when they were held. - The Star