Pahang: Police have stepped up patrols following two gold shop robberies that occurred in Pahang this week. Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob stated that the focus was on jewellery shops located in shophouse areas, on roadsides, and on premises without security guards.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, district police chiefs have been instructed to conduct more frequent patrols in the affected areas as a preventive measure. Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob emphasized the challenge posed by jewellery shops with smaller operations, which often have closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that are either non-functional or merely dummy cameras. This situation hampers police efforts to obtain recordings that could aid in investigations if a crime occurs.

Yesterday, four suspects armed with machetes and an object resembling a pump gun stole jewellery worth an estimated RM500,000 from a jewellery shop in Taman Pandan Damai. Earlier, on Monday, 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.

Meanwhile, Azry Akmar noted that initial investigations found the two robberies to be unrelated, involving different suspects. "Further investigations are underway, and police are still tracking down those involved in the cases," he added.