Machete-wielding robbers steal premium durians in Melaka

A durian orchard in Jasin, Melaka, became the target of a brazen robbery when three machete-wielding assailants made off with four baskets of premium 'IOI' durians. The incident occurred on June 27 around 11:30 a.m. at an orchard in Anjung Gapam, Bemban, where two teenage caretakers, aged 17 and 18, were overseeing the durian harvest.

The robbers arrived in a car and loaded the valuable fruit into their vehicle. When one of the teenagers confronted them, one suspect brandished a machete to intimidate him. The group then fled the scene, also taking a motorcycle belonging to the father of one of the victims.

Acting on intelligence, Jasin police launched an operation and arrested four men, aged between 27 and 35, in separate raids conducted between 12:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on June 28. The arrests took place in Bertam Hulu, Kampung Paya Rumput, Masjid Tanah, and Jasin. Police seized three mobile phones, the getaway car, the stolen motorcycle, and a folding knife believed to have been used in the crime.

During interrogations, two of the suspects admitted to their involvement, while another was positively identified by a victim as the individual who stole the motorcycle. One suspect claimed he was initially invited to steal car rims but decided to take the motorcycle upon seeing it at the orchard. Investigations revealed that three of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, and all had previous criminal records. Despite the arrests, the stolen durians have not been recovered.

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One of the suspects became aggressive and brandished a machete to intimidate the teenager, while another made off with a motorcycle belonging to the father of one of the victims before they fled.