MIRI: Armed robbery gangs in Sarawak are back in business with a vengeance.

After a lull of three months, these gangs went on a robbery spree in Kuching and Sibu in the past three days.

On Wednesday alone, six cases of armed robberies were reported.

The latest victims were a doctor, a shop manager, two families who were at home, a tourist couple from Perak and several individuals.

On Tuesday, Sebuyau state assemblyman Julaihi Narawi and his family of eight were robbed inside their house in Kuching in the wee hours of the morning.

At least three masked robbers, believed to be foreigners, were involved.

Three months ago, the Sarawak police shot and killed three wanted robbers in Sibu.

That shooting forced armed robbers throughout Sarawak to lay low.

It is believed that more youths are being lured into robbery because they are facing hard times due to the rising cost of living.

"Police have discovered cases of labourers in the day becoming armed robbers at night. These people are desperate for money and they will resort to crime as an easy way to get money," said a CID officer here.

There are still several high-profile robberies involving VIP victims that have yet to be solved in Sarawak.

On April 1, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam was robbed inside his residence in the state capital.

Former state minister Datuk Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi and Semarian state assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah were also robbed in their house in Kuching on April 19.

The culprits are still at large.