KUALA LUMPUR: A hardened criminal, who preyed on victims under the guise of a taxi driver, got his comeuppance when he was arrested by police.
The 37-year-old had a history of robberies and was even wanted for murder at one point, said police.
His latest gig saw him don the white shirt of a cab driver, where he would mostly pick up lone female tourists in the city with intention to rob them.
"He would approach people late at night or in the early mornings, offering transport services. Then he would take his victim to a secluded area and hold a parang to her," said Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Muhammad Azlee Abdullah.
After he had taken the valuables, the man would then kick his victim out of the car and drive off, leaving the victim alone in the dark and at a secluded place.
ACP Muhammad Azlee said the man had defaced the number plates on his taxi, so passengers would not be able to report the vehicle.
By chance, police spotted a man who fitted the suspect's description in Jalan Thambipillay on Oct 11 and arrested him.
The man later confessed to robbing different passengers in Brickfields, Cheras and Dang Wangi in just October alone.
"We seized a laptop, four USBs, a camera, six smartphones, a watch, a wallet and SIM cards from the man. All are believed to have been stolen.
"We also found sale letters of some smartphones to various pawn shops," he told reporters at the Brickfields police headquarters, Friday.
The man is being remanded until today (Friday) and is expected to be transferred to Wangsa Maju for further investigation.
Last week, two female students jumped out of a moving taxi in Jalan Bukit Bintang after the cabbie allegedly held them at gunpoint and demanded for their valuables.
ACP Muhamad Azlee, acknowledging the risk of taking a cab, advised the public to book taxis using the MyTeksi app which connects them to 10,000 taxi drivers, who have been vetted and are in constant contact with police.
"Also it is best not to get into a cab by yourselves. It is better if a friend is with you.
"If you do get into a situation where the driver is attempting to rob you, please give him your valuables. Your life is more important.
"But take note of his appearance, his tattoos, his license and identification, the colour of his taxi and the number plate. Anything you give us will help us solve such crimes," he said.
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