A man failed to break into the home of a former Penang chief minister in Pulau Tikus earlier today after windows on the ground floor were found open and there were signs of tampering.

Timur Laut police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the incident was discovered by a maid at 9 am who informed the wife of the former chief minister.

"However, no items in the apartment unit occupied by the Tan Sri, Puan Sri and the house maid were missing," he told reporters.

Mior Faridalathrash said a security guard patrolling the housing area reported seeing a man attempting to break into the former chief minister's home using a hoe.

On realising the presence of the security guard, the man climbed over the fence in the backyard and fled the scene at about 4.30am.

"Police are taking the incident seriously although the occupants did not suffer any loss of property," he said.

- Bernama