KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested suspected serial armed robbers following the creation of a special task force.

       Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Farouk Eshak, in a statement on Thursday (Aug 12) said that the police detected around six armed robbery cases within the district between July and early August.

       "The group would target victims who are walking alone. They would use machetes to scare the victims and rob them off their valuables and money.

       "The rise in such cases was worrying and a special team was created to trace and arrest the group. Between Aug 3 and Aug 6, multiple raids were conducted around Selayang and Gombak, which led to the arrest of one woman and seven men aged between 21 and 35," he said.

       Among the items seized were 74 handphones, four swords, three machetes and an axe.

       Six motorcycles, which were believed to have been used during the robberies, were also seized.

       Of the eight arrested, only one did not have a prior record. One of the suspects is currently wanted by the police.

       Six of the suspects tested positive for meth, and all eight have been remanded until Aug 15 and Aug 16.

       "With these arrests, the police have solved six armed robbery cases in Ampang Jaya and one in Gombak.

       "Investigations showed that the gang, dubbed Geng Acoi, rotated the use of motorcycles to throw off the police. No victims were injured during the robberies, as the weapons were only used to scare them," he said.

       Investigations are ongoing to identify other cases in and beyond the Ampang Jaya district.