According to Utusan Malaysia, Tumpat district police chief Tan Seng Lee said the suspect, aged 36, was nabbed just after 11pm on Monday after his car crashed into a divider while escaping with an accomplice.

Tan said the suspect had gone to a sundry shop pretending to buy ice cubes.

When the shop worker went to take the ice cubes from the freezer, the suspect grabbed his phone and fled in a car driven by an accomplice.

“When members of the public noticed the commotion, they chased the suspect’s car until it crashed into a divider and went up in flames,” he said.

“The accomplice managed to get away but the suspect was caught.”

He said the suspect tested positive for drugs and also had methamphetamine pills in his possession.

The man had a record of 12 criminal offences and was also wanted in connection with several robbery cases.

Tan said the police were looking for the accomplice, known as “Amir Kutan”.