SIBU: A collector of old newspapers was lured into a house by four men on the pretext of newspaper disposal but instead was assaulted in a robbery attempt yesterday morning.
The 27-year-old man, who has been in the business for 10 years, told reporters that four men waved him down when he was driving his van along Gambir Road here at around 11am.
He stopped and was asked if he collected old newspapers.
“When I answered yes, they brought me to a house nearby,” he said, adding that he followed them without suspecting something amiss.
On arrival, he said one of them tried to pull his waist bag when he carried some old newspapers.
In a struggle to protect his bag, the collector suffered an injury to his right eyebrow.
The commotion drew neighbours to the house who tried to nab one of the four men but he managed to flee while three others escaped in their car.
When the victim left the house for Pahlawan Road, the men tailed behind which prompted him to call the police.
The victim said they only left when police arrived at Pahlawan Road.
He was accompanied by his elderly mother to lodge a police report.
In a separate case, two men lodged a police report yesterday morning after they were robbed on Sunday night.
They were riding a motorcycle heading to Salim Road when they were stopped by two men at 10.15pm.
One of the victims said the men demanded money.
“They threatened to kill me and my friend if their demand was not met,” he said.
The victim said the two men took his wallet which contained RM150 cash, identity card and ATM card.