PETALING JAYA, Malaysia: Three car thieves managed to escape a police ambush by ramming a police car in a drama-filled afternoon at the car park of a hotel here.

The ambush was set up when the hotel staff came across a Toyota Hilux earlier in the morning which they suspected was stolen.

An ambush was set by a team of Selangor police as it was believed that the thieves had parked the car there to wait for a buyer.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said police spotted three men in a heavily-tinted Toyota Camry entering the area and circling the car park suspiciously.

The suspects panicked when they saw the cops and tried to reverse but a police car had blocked their way.

ACP Arjunaidi said the thieves rammed the police car and managed to escape, forcing the policemen to fire two shots. -The Star/ANN