A snatch thief who failed to make a woman his latest victim was shot dead by police near a factory in Senawang industrial area near Seremban today.

Seremban district police chief ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin said the snatch thief was identified as Rizam Zakaria, 32, from Taman Seremban Jaya, Seremban.

The drama unfolded at 11am when two police constables, each on a motorcyle, saw a motorcylist trying to snatch the handbag of a woman motorcylist at a traffic junction in Senawang.

"On realising that police constables were watching him, the motorcyclist made a U-turn and sped off. The constables chased for four kilometres during which the man tried to put them off by kicking at their motorcyles.

"The motorcyclist then abandoned his machine and fled on foot chased by one of the two constables, also on foot."

Saiful said the motorcyclist then took off his crash helmet and swung at the constable hitting him in the right arm.

"He again used his helmet to attack the constable who fired two shots, one in the air and the other hitting him in the left thigh.

"The motorcyclist collapsed and died 15 minutes later. Police found a knife and drug taking tools like needles in a sling bag."

Police are waiting for a post mortem report from Tuanku Jaafar Hospital to know the real cause of death.

The case is investigated under Section 307 of Penal Code.

Rizam had six drug and theft offences while the Yamaha RXZ motorcycle used was reported stolen in Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.

- Bernama