Three robbers have stolen more than RM5 million from an armoured security van in one of Malaysia's biggest such heists in recent times, reports said today.

The three, one of them armed with a pistol, commandeered the security van in Kajang, a suburb south of the capital Kuala Lumpur, as it was making a collection on Monday evening.

The van with four armed guards had picked up RM5 million during the day from several banks and supermarkets.

Van abandoned

The deputy police chief for Kajang, Ismail Mat Sidik, said the thieves had driven off in the van, later found abandoned.

"We have mounted roadblocks at all exits," he was quoted as saying in the Star newspaper.

The Malay Mail daily said four other security van robberies had taken place over the last two months in suburbs surrounding Kuala Lumpur. The amounts stolen ranged from RM400,000 to RM1 million, it said.

Police were not available for further comment.