Punch-for-punch in TTDI, brave victims trade blows to thwart petrol station robber

KUALA LUMPUR – A woman experienced a harrowing ordeal when she narrowly escaped a robbery at a petrol station in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) last Sunday.

The suspect’s attempt was thwarted when he was fended off by the 25-year-old victim and her friend, who fought back from inside their vehicle before the assailant fled the scene.

Brickfields District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Hoo Chan Hook stated that the police received a report regarding the incident at 8.30am.

Initial investigations revealed that the attempted robbery occurred at approximately 7.10am, while the victim and her friend had stopped at the petrol station to inflate their vehicle’s tyres.

“A man on a motorcycle is believed to have approached the vehicle and attempted to open the car door to seize a handbag. The victim and her friend resisted and a struggle ensued,” Hoo said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added that during the scuffle, the suspect allegedly punched the victim on her arm and head.

“The suspect subsequently fled on his motorcycle,” he added.

“He failed to escape with any valuables or cash belonging to the victim,” he added.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which pertains to voluntarily causing hurt in committing a robbery.

Further investigations suggest that the motorcycle used by the suspect was fitted with a fake registration number.

However, the police have successfully produced a photofit sketch of the suspect, who has been identified as a local man.

“Efforts to track down and apprehend the suspect are ongoing and an arrest is expected in the near future,” Hoo said.

He urged members of the public with any information related to the case to come forward and facilitate investigation by contacting the nearest police station.