Hussein said the gang, in their 30s, had been active in the Klang Valley since 2022.

“Our investigations found that the gang had committed 50 robbery cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“They targeted factories, offices and houses. There were cases where they violently assaulted their victims,” he said at a press conference here today.

Hussein said the gang, comprising Malaysians, had also robbed a few premises belonging to a delivery company, targeting safeboxes.

“We believe the gang had more than the five members. They could have obtained information from insiders in the respective premises (that they robbed),” he said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

Hussein said the shootout occurred at about midnight, when police flagged down a car for inspection.

The car failed to stop and its occupants opened fire at the policemen, who returned fire.

The five died at the scene.

Police found two pistols, a machete and other equipment used for robberies in the car.