A young couple dubbed "Bonnie and Clyde" after robbing five convenience stores and fuel stations in the past month were arrested after a high-speed chase today, official Bernama news agency reported.

The 22-year-old man and his 16-year-old female companion had struck at a grocery shop in the northern city of Ipoh in the early hours of the morning, threatening shop assistants with a toy pistol and stealing RM400, the agency said.

Police were alerted and cornered the couple, who were using a stolen car, after a 10-kilometre chase.

"We are investigating the toy pistol used by the male suspect and have asked all heads of police stations to check shops to ensure that toys with striking resemblance to real handguns are not sold," said Ipoh police chief Ismail Abdullah. - AFP