Police shot dead a man, believed to be the mastermind of a robbery and housebreaking gang, in a shootout on Jalan Bukit Tunku, in Kuala Lumpur, early today.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acting director Fadil Marsus said the 36-year-old man, with 44 criminal records including drug cases, was believed to be responsible for several housebreaking and robbery cases reported in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Perak since last year, involving losses of more than RM1 million.