MUAR, MALAYSIA: A night-shift security guard lost his life over two bottles of whisky and RM100 when thieves broke into a store containing building materials in Jalan Haji Jaib here at dawn yesterday.

Mohd Hairil Sidek, 36, was on duty at IP Muda Selatan Sdn Bhd when he was taken by surprise and overpowered by a group of thieves.

They were believed to have crawled through a hole in the fence behind the building.

Mohd Hairil's hands and feet were bound with nylon rope and lanyard while his head was wrapped with a cloth.

Mohd Hairil was believed to have suffocated to death.

The thieves ransacked the store's offices and removed two bottles of whisky worth RM180 each but left RM200 in a petty cash box untouched.

They took Mohd Hairil's wallet containing RM100.

Store manager Tan Kheng Seng had gone to the building at about 8.10am and found the gate still locked.

Tan contacted the security guard's supervisor after his calls to Mohd Hairil went unanswered.

"We found Mohd Hairil's body sprawled on the floor."

Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Nasir Ramli said initial investigations revealed that more than two thieves were involved.