Second Armed Robbery In Two Days
By Za'im Zaini & Haji Minor Absah

Bandar Seri Begawan - Barely 24 hours after a house in Kg Batang Mitus was burgled by eight "foreigners" armed with a samurai sword, parang and an axe, another group of robbers wielding knives struck a house in Kg Bebatik Kilanas in the wee hours of yesterday, leaving the occupants in a state of shock.

The incident, which occurred at 2am, involved five intruders believed to be foreign nationals. Police received a call around 3am and immediately rushed to the scene.

The culprits took away four mobile phones, a laptop, $1,200 in cash and jewellery valued at more than $1,000.

The owner of the house said, "I suspect that they entered the house through the window of the toilet, entered the living room and opened the front door."

Both robberies have too many similarities — the way the robbers entered the house, carrying dangerous weapons, tying up the occupants inside the house and even the time of intrusion.

The house owner in his 40s, with panic still writ large on his face, added, "We were woken up at around 2am all of a sudden, the culprits asked us to lie down, tied us up and blindfolded us so that we won't be able to see them.

"It was dark although our toilet light was on at the time. What concerned us more was that my eldest daughter of nine was also tied up and restrained to silence her.

"Our house was completely ransacked. They were speaking in an Indonesian accent," he added.

His nine-year-old daughter told the Bulletin, "I was tied up and cried through the night." Fortunately she was unharmed.

The modus operandi of the robbery also bore similarities to a burglary in Kg Jangsak that took place last September 28. That incident was suspected to be linked with a serial gang robbery that took place three years ago. Between 2002 and 2004, several houses belonging to VIPs and prominent businessmen were burgled by a group of six to eight men.

Intensive investigations by the Royal Brunei Police Force through its Serious Crime Unit uncovered an extensive syndicate involving foreign nationals. The robbers stole more than B$3 million in cash and goods within that period.

The Royal Brunei Police Force is seeking help from members of the public and if anyone has knowledge on the latest incidents, they should contact the nearest police station or call 993. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: Sword-Wielding Gang In Dawn Heist

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