The showroom in Jalan Bukit Bintang where the luxury car worth almost RM1 million was stolen yesterday. Pix: NSTKUALA LUMPUR: A man walked into a luxury car showroom in Jalan Bukit Bintang yesterday morning and drove off with a car worth almost a million ringgit under the noses of staff and security guards.

The suspect, who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, trousers and a baseball cap, had entered the premises at 9am on the pretext of meeting a friend who was allegedly working there.

He was left unattended by the three employees of the outlet.

The suspect then cooly walked up to the first floor, ransacked an office and took an envelope containing the keys to a Porsche Panamera.

He then walked out of the showroom, got into the RM900,000 gold-coloured car parked outside and drove away.

The two security guards at the check post allowed him to leave as they thought he was a genuine buyer who had come to collect his new car.

A Porsche Panamera similar to the one which was stolen yesterday. Pix: autoblog.comIt was only after the man drove out of the gates that the guards realised he was stealing the car as it did not have registration plates.

They raised the alarm but by then, the suspect and the car were long gone.

Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad said police were only informed an hour later.

"By then, the suspect could have taken the car out of the state."

Police, however, have identified the suspect from closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings.

The suspect was a former Emergency Ordinance detainee who was held in Simpang Renggam detention centre. He has 11 previous convictions for various offences, including car theft.

"The suspect is also wanted in two other similar cases in the city," Zainuddin said.

Police believe the suspect had a ready buyer waiting for the car. They also believe he had inside help from someone at the showroom.

"The fact that the suspect knew where to get the key, and for which car, has raised many questions."

It was learnt that there were seven cars, including the stolen Porsche Panamera, parked outside the building. The cars were to be sent to a dealer in Shah Alam later yesterday.

Police are looking for Mohd Azri Mohd Kassim (pic), 31, whose last known address is Harmoni Condominium, Damansara Perdana to facilitate investigations.

Those with information on his whereabouts can contact the Dang Wangi police hotline at 03-26977099.