Security guard dies in robbery

A security guard was shot to death and another was injured during an armored car robbery yesterday afternoon in Taipei.

The deceased, Chou Kuo-lung (周國隆), and fellow security guard Kuo Chih-wei (郭智偉) of security company Group 4 Securicor-Taiwan were robbed while they were transporting NT$16 million (US$483,000) to a branch belonging to Taiwan Cooperative Bank on Zhongshan N Road in Taipei City.

When they stepped out of their security van with the money, an unidentified assailant fired at them, said Hsieh Wen-chieh (謝文傑), chief of Taipei City Police Department's Zhongshan Police District.

The robber then fled on a motorcycle, Hsieh said.

The theft took place at 3:50pm in front of the bank.

After knocking Chou down with a shot in the chest, the suspect walked forward and fired again.

Kuo was only slightly injured because of his bullet-proof vest.

Hsieh said that the suspect stole the cash after shooting Chou.

Kuo was shot when he attempted to flee, Hsieh said.

The pair was ambushed by the suspect as they were carrying the bags of cash into the bank, police said.

Police discovered four bullet shell casings at the scene of the attack, Hsieh added.

Chou and Kuo were taken to an area hospital where Chou died at 6: 20pm.

The lone suspect rode a scooter to get away from the scene, Hsieh said, and police had not identified him.

The assailant was able to conceal his identity by wearing a helmet at the time of the crime, Hsieh said.

The robbery took place just 100m from the Zhongshan Police District station.

Armored cars belonging to Group 4 Securicor-Taiwan have been robbed more than 10 times in recent years.

On Jan. 2, one of the company's security guards drugged his partner and made off with NT$56 million that was meant to be delivered to a bank.

He later fled to China via Hong Kong and was arrested by Chinese authorities and sent back to Taiwan on Jan. 10.

Additional reporting by DPA