KUANTAN, Aug 18 — Three men armed with axes and crowbars escaped with 81 pieces of jewellery weighing 2.5 kilogrammes and valued at RM1.74 million from a goldsmith at the SkyAvenue mall, Genting Highlands, yesterday.

Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob said police received a report on the incident at 11.39am from a private security guard.

He said preliminary investigations found that three male suspects wearing face masks, caps, and jackets entered the premises and took five trays of jewellery.

"The incident is believed to have taken place within two minutes before the suspects fled the premises at about 11.41am," he said in a statement today.

He added that at the time of the incident, two employees, a man and a woman, were inside the shop while another female worker was on a break outside.

Azry Akmar said no customers were in the shop during the incident and no security guards were assigned to the premises. No injuries were reported.

"A review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the suspects are believed to have used a luxury BMW vehicle registered under the name of a man residing in Ampang, Selangor," he said.

Following the heist, he said police activated Op Tutup from noon at Check Point 2 in Genting Highlands and along routes to Batang Kali. The operation ended at 4.15pm.

Azry Akmar said police are continuing investigations to track down all three suspects.

"The Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Forensics Division and Pahang Contingent CID were also deployed to conduct an examination at the crime scene," he said.

Members of the public with information about the incident are urged to assist the investigation by contacting Investigating Officer Inspector Nurul Aqilah Azmi at 011-3175 9522 or any nearby police station. — Bernama