Thaindian News

Kuala Lumpur, May 16 (IANS) It was an armed robbery with a difference. An entire family raided a petrol station in Johor Baru - only to rob cigarettes and chocolates.

A taxi driver, 49, brought along his wife and five children, including a baby girl, and robbed a petrol station in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya Saturday.

Though he armed his three sons and a daughter, aged between eight and 15, with swords and machetes, all they took were cigarettes and chocolates, the New Straits Times reported Monday.

The man and his sons brandished the weapons and tried to attack a police team as they made their getaway.

They then led police on a 15 km chase before surrendering.

Zainuddin Yaacob, a police official, described the case as “off the wall” as it involved the whole family, including minors.

Police were investigating the family’s motive, he added.

He said the man was earlier involved in an assault involving his 25-year-old nephew.

Yaacob said the nephew had lodged a police report, claiming that he sustained four stitches to his head.

A police team went to the suspect’s house to investigate. But the entire family escaped in a taxi driven by the suspect.

With police on their tail, the family drove to the petrol station nearby and robbed it.

While his 37-year-old wife and 16-month-old baby remained in the taxi, the man told his eight-year-old son, who had a machete, to look out for police.

Three children went inside the station and stole four packs of cigarettes and chocolates.

“After following them for about 15 km, the police team finally intercepted the vehicle.

“We seized six parang (machete), a vegetable knife and a wooden baton from the suspects.”