KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 —  One of the suspects believed to be linked to the "Lightning Gang” responsible for the recent swift jewellery robberies in Kuala Lumpur and Seremban was shot dead by the police last night.

Cheras police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Ghani Mohamad Ji, in a short text message to reporters this morning, confirmed the incident but refused to divulge further information.

"The shooting incident involved the police with one of the Poh Kong’s robbers. The suspect was shot dead.

"Further statement can only come from Kuala Lumpur police chief,” he said, referring to the New Year’s Eve RM1.5 million heist which was done under three minutes at Cheras Leisure Mall.

A press conference on the incident is expected to only take place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Star Online reported that police acted on a tip-off and led a team from the Bukit Aman Special Task Force on Organised Crime on patrol into Taman Connaught, Cheras at around 10.35pm last night.

The shootdown allegedly took place after police bumped into one of the suspects who was driving a blue car and chased him down.

The source also told the online portal that the suspect had five previous arrests and was wanted in Cheras for discharging a firearm under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalty) Act 1971.

Yesterday, Malay Mail reported that police believed the heists were pulled off by the same "Lightning Gang” after a source revealed that the serial number of the shotgun found in Seremban matched the one stolen from Cheras.

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had also said state police are put on high alert following the spate of robberies.