Ronal Gang, responsible for more than 50 burglaries in seven states, was crippled yesterday when police shot dead three members

Ronal Gang, responsible for more than 50 burglaries in seven states, was crippled yesterday when police shot dead three members, including the mastermind.
The gang, which comprised Indonesians, had been operating for the past two years.
They had evaded police detection by entering and exiting Malaysia through the proper channels.Their crime spree came to an end yesterday near the Sungai Ramal toll plaza when police cornered the three men who were in a Proton Waja.
When they saw the police, they tried to shoot their way out of trouble by firing two shots. Police returned fire, killing all three -- mastermind Muhammad Zaen, 38, and Sarapudin, 30, both from Lombok, and Ramli, 33, from Medan .Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the gang had committed 29 burglaries in Malacca and at least 10 reported cases in Selangor."During one of the gang's burglaries in Johor, the mastermind, who is nicknamed Ronal, also raped a teacher. "This gang is one of the most wanted in the country," he said at the scene.Describing what happened yesterday, he said police had spotted the suspects in Salak South and tailed them to the toll plaza where the police team attempted to flag them down.That was when the shooting started.A search of the suspects' vehicle unearthed a revolver with six rounds of ammunition and various house breaking tools, including screwdrivers and sickles. Khalid said the gang would wear two sets of clothing whenever they were going to commit a crime, as the first set of clothing would be used to conceal their identities."This gang is vicious as several of their victims were injured while they were ransacking the house. "The rape incident in Johor last year is another example of their brutality." Selangor police are checking with their counterparts in Malacca, Johor, Kedah, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Perak as the Ronal Gang had struck in these states, too . It is unclear if the gang had committed any other sexual offences during their 50-odd break-ins.