A case of honour among thieves?

A man shook hands with a victim and apologised profusely after allegedly robbing him at a house in Bandar Sri Perani in Kota Tinggi early today.

The alleged robber, who was accompanied by two accomplices, told Mohd Hairi Tahir, 37, that they resorted to robbery because they had to eat.

The three masked men, who were armed with a machete and knives escaped with cash, a laptop, a watch, a gold bracelet and a mobile phone in what was believed to be a car.

The robbery occurred at 4.45am.

Earlier, Mohd Hairi, his wife and two-year-old child were asleep in the master bedroom when they were awakened by a loud thud on its door.

Upon checking, he was shocked to see a man holding a gas cylinder which he had earlier used to strike at the bedroom door.

“As the man and his two accomplices, who were armed with a machete and knives rushed into our bedroom, I screamed.

“The trio ordered me to show where we kept our money and valuables. They scooped some money and valuables, and as they were leaving about 10 minutes later, one of them shook my hand and apologised.

“He told me they had to rob so that they could eat,” he added.

Confirming the hold-up, Kota Tinggi police chief Supt Rahmat Othman said the robbers had prised open the rear door to enter Mohd Hairi’s house.

- Bernama