SERI MANJUNG, Feb 23 — Perak police shot dead three robbers during a pre-dawn shootout after the suspects had allegedly robbed an elderly couple at Kampung Serapuh, Parit, Perak Tengah this morning.

Perak CID chief Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said during the 4am incident, the suspects had robbed the elderly couple of a gold chain after threatening the wife with a knife and beating up the husband.

Acting on information received, a special Op Cantas squad moved into action and came across a Proton Waja car Kampung Buruk Bakul Jalan Beruas-Parit with the suspects, about 4km from the victim's house.

“When police tried to obstruct the car, the suspects fired two shots at police, one hitting the left windscreen of the police car. The police car closed in on the suspects resulting in the car driven by the suspects losing control.

“Two suspects rushed out of the car with parang to attack the police and police had no choice but to fire at them as they did not heed warnings,” he told reporters at the Manjung police headquarters, here, today.

He said the suspects, aged between 20 and 30, died at the spot while their bodies were later sent to the Manjung Hospital for post-mortem.

Mohd Dzuraidi said police found tools used for house break-in, a gold chain, a pistol and four live bullets in the car which was reported stolen in Kota Baharu, Kelantan back in 2010.

He said the suspects are believed to have been involved in about 15 robberies in Manjung, Perak Tengah and Teluk Intan. — Bernama