The police chief said they believed the five or seven member group could be foreigners, and the police had quickly set up road blocks and deployed all means to hunt them down. He admitted that the details of the crime were sketchy and they would need the public to provide information.

 He said they were deeply concerned over the crime and he vowed to go all out to arrest the robbers.

 “We have not only set up road blocks. We have launched all other necessary actions too.”

 He said public members could contact him personally at 0128078000 or the police station at 086-312531 or the police headquarters at 086-332044 for information, identities and whereabouts of the robbers.

 He said informants did not have to identify themselves or get called to the police station for statement recordings.

 “Just give us the information,” he said.

 From the description given by the robbers are foreigners “who are running free out there now”.

 He said the police believed the robbers talked to the victims in Bahasa Malaysia with strong foreign accent.

 The 6 am robbery has rocked the rather quiet Bintulu town. It appeared that the masked robbers had waited for a worker in the mansion to put his employer’s two dogs in a cage before they climbed in to bind him and three maids.

 The robbers entered into the house, pointed a pistol at the owner’s head and held a knife against his neck before binding five adult family members and confined them in a room.

 Then they ransacked the house and walked away with RM15,000, jewellery and other valuables.
 Before they left, they fired two shots into the air when they saw a man approaching the mansion.

 The robbers were believed to have left behind a pair of slippers and worn out sports shoes in preference for the branded shoes of the house accupants.

 On whether the police would call for a DNA test on the footwear, Sulaiman said they were employing all available crime investigation techniques.

 He said it was still too early to reveal these as their investigation was going on. He only disclosed that they were brushing for finger prints.

 In the meantime he appealed for situation in Bintulu was under control.

 “We do have a few high profile crime cases, but we are maintaining the security situation well.”

 According to the newspaper reports yesterday, the robbers struck while it was raining.

 The police believe at least three pistols and a few knives were used on the robbery. They have yet to confirm whether these were home-made guns or weapons smuggled into the State.

 The robbers entered the house through a rear door the bound the house owner, his two sons, two daughters-in-law and two toddler grandchildren.

 When the owner pleaded for the lives of his family members, the robbers replied that if they cooperated and did not resist, they would not be harmed. The family members also pleaded with the robbers not to bind the toddlers.

 The robbers left after getting what they wanted, and after some struggle, the house owner and other adult family members freed themselves and called for help.

 Bintulu Member of Parliament,  Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing, said yesterday afternoon the at the robbery made him worried.

 Hence he urged the police to launch a full-scale hunt for the robbers.

 He said he would look into the case before giving more comments.