KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Sporting full-face motorcycle helmets, jackets and knapsacks, a gang of parang-wielding robbers have been terrorising telecommunication shops in the Klang Valley since February.

In groups of two to four men, the robbers would storm the shops and herd the employees into a corner before sweeping cash and handphones into their knapsacks - in less than five minutes.

"Arriving on motorcycles, one of the robbers would stand watch outside while the others attack," said victim Liew Kim Moon, who operates a telecommunication shop in Jalan Klang Lama.

Liew, the Federal Territory and Selangor Telecommunication Association chairman, is one of seven victims who have made police reports.

He said there had been an average of two cases a month, with total losses exceeding RM100,000.

"Besides CCTVs, we are considering hiring armed guards in areas where telecommunication shops are concentrated," he said.

Chan Sai Yen, 29, who owns a telecommunication shop in Kepong, lost about RM25,000 and several of his employees when they resigned after the first of two robberies by the gang.

"On Feb 29, four men with parang cleaned out the place in less than five minutes. Last Thursday, the robbers struck again and took customers' handbags and employees' handphones," he said.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong called for caution and urged victims to highlight their cases.